Kevin Sheedy says he bears no ill feelings towards Essendon as he prepares to coach against his former AFL club for the first time on Saturday.

Sheedy piloted the Bombers to four AFL premierships in 27 years before his contract was not renewed after the 2007 season.

Hired as inaugural coach for Greater Western Sydney, he will lead his young team against the Bombers this weekend in the Giants’ first game at the revamped Sydney Showground Stadium, their main home base at Olympic Park.

Asked if he bore any ill feeling towards Essendon given the manner of his departure, Sheedy said “No.

“Any coach that has been allowed to coach a club for 27 years, you’re blessed and I always felt it that way.

“Particularly if you actually got to coach the club that you barracked for when you were a little 10-year-old, that’s pretty good stuff.”

Sheedy was adamant Saturday night would not be an emotional occasion for him, as he had spent five years away from Essendon.

He said he had never discounted the possibility of coaching against the Bombers prior to taking the Giants job, which he described the best thing to happen in his life.

He was full of praise for the style the third-placed Bombers have developed under his former star James Hird.

“They are playing very attacking football which I think is important and I think that’s great because they are building a young side,” Sheedy said.

“They are going places, there’s no doubt about that.”

He anticipated seven to eight changes for the Giants this weekend, with several rested players set to return.

Giants’ chief executive David Matthews said he expected a crowd of 18,000-20,000 in the 25,000-capacity stadium, with around 30 per cent of tickets snapped up by Victorians.