Heath Shephard (born 7 September 1969) is a former

Australian rules football Australian football, also called Australian rules football or Aussie rules, or more simply football or footy, is a contact sport played between two teams of 18 players on an oval field, often a modified cricket ground. Points are scored by k ...

er who played with Collingwood and the

Brisbane Bears The Brisbane Football Club, nicknamed the Bears, was a professional Australian rules football club based in Queensland on the Gold Coast (relocated to Brisbane in 1993). The club participated in the Victorian/Australian Football League (VFL/A ...

in the Victorian/Australian Football League (VFL/AFL). Shephard was drafted by Collingwood under the "Father-Son" rule, as his

Graeme Graham and Graeme may refer to: People * Graham (given name), an English-language given name * Graham (surname), an English-language surname * Graeme (surname), an English-language surname * Graham (musician) (born 1979), Burmese singer * Clan G ...

had played at the club in the early 1970s. Although he grew up in Tasmania, he was playing at Victorian club Robinvale when Collingwood secured his services. He had a memorable VFL debut, against the Brisbane Bears at

Victoria Park Victoria Park may refer to: Places Australia * Victoria Park Nature Reserve, a protected area in Northern Rivers region, New South Wales * Victoria Park, Adelaide, a park and racecourse * Victoria Park, Brisbane, a public park and former golf ...

in the third round of the 1989 season.AFL Tables: Heath Shephard
/ref> His 18 disposals included five goals and five behinds. He kicked another two goals the following week but his form then dropped off and he finished the season with nine games to his name. In 1990, Collingwood ended up breaking their premiership drought and Shephard, having played only twice that year due to a loss of form and a broken arm, returned to Tasmania. He spent the 1991 season with the Burnie Hawks in the TFL Statewide League and returned to the AFL the following year, joining Brisbane. Perhaps influenced by Shephard's debut performance, which had come against them, the Bears used the 65th selection of the

national draft The Australian Football League draft is the annual draft of unsigned players, especially new nominations, by Australian rules football teams that participate in the main competition of that sport, the Australian Football League (AFL). History W ...

to pick him up. His stint in Brisbane was unsuccessful and he managed just four senior games. He continued playing football in Victoria and topped the goal-kicking for West Preston Lakeside on three occasions.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Shephard, Heath 1969 births Australian rules footballers from Tasmania Collingwood Football Club players Brisbane Bears players Burnie Hawks Football Club players West Preston Football Club players Living people