The AFL announced yesterday it had appointed Sheedy head coach of new AFL club Greater Western Sydney for three years yesterday, including its first season in 2012.

The playing and coaching legend quickly backed the proposed Western Sydney and ACT affiliation, which the AFL and ACT Government have said is the solution for a long-term AFL presence.

He said drawing on young players from the territory would be a part of developing a competitive squad.

''We are going to align very strongly with Canberra and we'll make sure we have a strong AFL presence there,'' Sheedy said.

''There is one major reason why it's so important we go to Canberra and that's to give your kids in that area an absolute great chance to make it like James Hird and Justin Blumfield, two players who played in my last premiership.''

While western Sydney's list management rules already stipulate the club has exclusive access to a number of ACT and southern NSW players over the next two years, Sheedy said they would consider players that hadn't made it through the draft the first time. He even invited AFL Canberra clubs to put forward players.

''We'll be scanning the whole of Australia for the best players who aren't yet playing AFL,'' he said.

''If there is a 21-year-old from Canberra who is turning 23 by the time we enter the competition, if he's he's good enough, could you get that person to call me or get onto the recruiting staff?

''One of the most important things we can do is get down to Canberra and sit down with the clubs.

''Over the next six months if there is any player who the clubs think is good enough to be playing for Western Sydney, then I'll be meeting him in Canberra.''

The ACT Government has proposed the team play two to four home games at Manuka Oval each season.

Since the Kangaroos ended their association with the ACT in 2006, a series of short-term deals have kept premiership AFL in the capital. The Western Bulldogs and Melbourne Demons played one premiership fixture at Manuka Oval each season from 2007 to 2009, while next year the Western Bulldogs will play one premiership game in Canberra, in Round 8 against the Sydney Swans.