For all those AFL players (memo: N Buckley, R Harvey etc) and coaches (K Sheedy) thinking of carrying on for another season or two, and trying to eke out one more contract, please, have a look at the way Victorian Premier Steve Bracks bowed out of politics last week — at the top of his game, his reputation at its zenith — and take note.

The league’s Dorian Grays might also care to flick through the history books and observe the welter of examples of those players and coaches who just didn’t know when to let go. As though football was the only thing they had in their life, the only thing that defined their existence.

As recently as this week, Carlton’s former captain Anthony Koutoufides, one of the game’s finest players in the past decade, ran down the curtain on his career, a long-term hip injury the final ailment in a body that had come to groan and creak like Captain Ahab’s whaler.

Those who marveled at Koutoufides in his prime would have had trouble reconciling those images with the lame No.43 who hobbled through matches this year. Clearly, the Adonis had gone on for one season too long.

But this is really a message for Sheeds as he dusts off his CV for Melbourne, Fremantle and any other club that comes calling. Sheeds, don’t do it. Revel in your hard-won reputation as a four-time premiership coach, lateral thinker and footy’s greatest spruiker. Don’t sully those memories with an ill-fated venture back into the coaches box.

Even the greats find it hard to reinvent themselves at other clubs. Ron Barassi went back to Melbourne to coach for five seasons in the early 1980s and finished no better than eighth (in a 12-team comp). He then couldn’t resist an offer from Sydney at the end of 1993 but, in his two full seasons in charge there, finished 15th and 12th.

The lustre surrounding the great man began to look a smidgin like fool’s gold. Rodney Eade, the brilliant young coach whose brain was fizzing with tactical ideas and innovations, promptly took the Swans to the grand final the following season.

Allan Jeans, after an incomparable career at Hawthorn, was coaxed out of retirement to coach Richmond in 1992. His Tigers finished 13th out of 15 and he promptly went back to the serenity of Cheltenham Lawn Bowls Club, where he donned comfy white shoes and played pennant bowls with his mates.

There’s now a splinter group of supporters at Essendon calling for Sheedy’s reinstatement as coach. There’s also talk of an extraordinary meeting. Guys, the passion is admirable, but forget it. We all love the nutty professor, he’s been brilliant for your club but his time has clearly come. It’s as plain as the distinctive nose on his face.

The Bombers haven’t been a serious contender for the flag since 2001. Sure they’ve made the finals most seasons, but never had the team to compete in September with Brisbane, Sydney and West Coast in the past six years. And, Paddy Ryder aside, where’s the five-star talent among the youngsters? The reliance on the ageing champions — Hird, Fletcher, Lloyd, Lucas et al — has become unhealthy.

The proposed gig at Fremantle sounds like Sheedy’s best option: mentoring senior coach Mark Harvey. His pride will probably never allow him to play second banana to anyone but pride, as we have long been told, invariably comes before a fall.

Melbourne seems intent on dangling the carrot of its senior coaching position in front of Sheedy. Viewed from another angle, though, it looks distinctly like a banana skin.