This weekend two-time premiership player, Lloyd Shepherd, plays his 150^th open-age game for the Pennant Hills Demons.

Originally from country NSW where he played juniors for the Dubbo Demons, Shep joined the Pennant Hills variety of Demons in 2004, starting in the Reserves and third grade sides. He was 18 at the time and it was then that he established a firm friendship with his great mate Chris Yard. At that time, in 2004, YD was in his first season as Player/Coach of the Reserve Grade side, while being apprenticed to the Senior Coach, assisting Danny ‘Big Dan’ Ryan with the Firsts. Since then, YD has become the longest serving senior coach, currently in his 8^th season, and is arguably the Club’s most successful coach with two premierships to his name.

Playing mainly forward or in the middle as a junior, when Shep got to Pennant Hills “… Yardy was pretty quick to use him as a key backman and that’s where he stayed.” By season’s end in 2004, Shep’s obvious football talent had been recognised and he made his first grade debut in Round 14 against the 2003 premiers UNSW/ES Bulldogs, in pouring rain at the Village Green. The Demons won by 9 pts that day and were eventually eliminated by St George in the first semi final. Shep also recalls that he “… had the privilege to play alongside Barnaby Howarth,” who was the Club Captain in 2004.

Spanning a period of 16 years, 2019 is Shep’s 10^th season with the Demons. He was a member of the successful 2006 and 2017 premiership sides, was Pennant Hills Footballer of the Year in 2009, and an AFL Sydney Representative player over several seasons. Twice selected as Fullback in the AFL Sydney Team of the Year in 2014 and 2016 ranks him amongst the best defenders to have played in the Sydney competition. As a measure of his leadership qualities he was named Captain of the 2014 TotY.

For the past couple of seasons Shep has been threatening to retire, however, YD has been able to coax him into continuing his career. In 2019, however, he has stepped back to the Reserve grade side and in spite of avowing to be only an occasional player, he has so far played every game!  Unsurprisingly, Shep is a valuable addition to the Reserves in 2019! He has also taken on an assistant coaching role, helping YD to organise and mentor the Premier Division defensive group.

From 2005 to 2018, Shep played mainly first grade footy, but not all of it has been at Pennant Hills. Between 2010 and 2013, lured by the ‘Big Bucks’, Shep had four seasons at the Albury Tigers playing in the strong Ovens and Murray Football League. “He played an important role in defence during a golden era for the [Albury] club and played in the last two of their hat-trick of flags from 2009 to 2011.’’ So Shep played 78 games for the Tigers, won two premierships from four grand finals, was an O&M and NSW Country representative in 2010 and was the Tigers’ Player’s Player in 2013. During his time there, Shep played against many highly talented opponents, none more notable than the former Carlton gun Brendan ‘The Shag’ Fevola. A two-time Coleman Medallist, Fevola played for Yarrawonga in the O&M League in 2012 and his 5 goals in the Grand Final against Albury Tigers denied Shep a hat-trick of flags!

Off-field, Shep is a quiet but friendly and humble personality, one of the Good Blokes! But when he steps on to the footy field he has a hard and uncompromising brand of play that gives full expression to the adage that your opposition must ‘EARN’ their possessions. He is highly skilled and has a wealth of footy nous. He has been an exemplary exponent of the defender’s craft and is a leading role-model for the young men and women coming through the ranks.

On behalf of everyone at Pennant Hills we wish Shep the best of luck for his milestone match and congratulate him on this magnificent achievement!

Match Highlights

Premier Division Grand Final 2017 – Blacktown ISP – 16 September 2017 Pennant Hills 10.06-66 defeated Sydney University 7.18-60

Premier Division Grand Final 2014 – at Blacktown ISP – 20 September 2014 Pennant Hills 2.10-22 lost to Manly Warringah Giants 8.20-68

Premier Division Grand Final 2006 – at Henson Park – 9 September 2006 Pennant Hills 5.20-50 defeated East Coast Eagles 7.6-48

Premier Division Debut – at Village Green – 24 July 2004 Pennant Hills 9.11-65 defeated UNSW/ES Bulldogs 7.14-56

Seniors – SS&A Cup Grand Final – Lavington Panthers Oval – 18 September 2011 Albury Tigers 15.13-103 defeated Yarrawonga 14.10-94

Seniors – SS&A Cup Grand Final – Lavington Panthers Oval – 19 September 2010 Albury Tigers 13.11-89 defeated Yarrawonga 11.13-79 Lloyd Shepherd #6 in Best Players

 

Games Played/Career Highlights

• Open-age 150
• 123 Premier Division
• 23 Reserve Grade
• 4 Lower grade

Premierships

• 2x Premier Division – 2006, 2017
• Premier Division Runners Up – 2014

Awards

• Pennant Hills Footballer of the Year – 2009
• Premier Division R/U Best and Fairest – 2014
• Premier Division – Best Team Man/Most Consistent- 2007, 2009
• Reserve Grade – Most Improved

Representative Honours

• Sydney AFL Representative Team – 2007, 2009, 2014
• Sydney AFL Team of the Year – 2014 (Captain), 2016

Phelan Medla Voting

• Total Votes received 2009 – 2018 = 8 votes
• Snow Medal votes 2016 = 2 votes

Albury Tigers

• Seasons 2010 – 2013 (78 Games)
• Premierships – 2010, 2011
• Ovens & Murray/NSW Country Representative Teams – 2010

Junior Football

• Dubbo Demons