Mark Seaby
Encyclopedia
Mark Seaby is a professional Australian rules football
er currently playing for the Sydney Swans
in the Australian Football League
.
He is best known as a former premiership player with the West Coast Eagles
.
at pick 22 in the 2001 AFL Draft
by the West Coast Eagles
. He made his senior AFL debut in Round 4, 2004 against the Brisbane Lions
and became a regular player that season due to injury issues with senior ruckman Michael Gardiner
. While Gardiner's understudy Dean Cox rose to prominence, Seaby served as a secondary ruckmman into 2005, occasionally being used as a tall forward option with some success. In early 2006 his chances of maintaining his position received a boost with Gardiner receiving an indefinite suspension from the club due to disciplinary issues.
After being relegated to the WAFL upon the return of Gardiner in Round 13, he was brought back when Dean Cox broke his collarbone in the same game. He and Gardiner's first tandem game was a blowout, with Hawthorn
's Peter Everitt
beating them convincingly. Their next, and last, was largely better, with Seaby getting a season-high 31 hitouts. Gardiner was fined and again suspended indefinitely after a drunken car crash just days later, leaving Seaby to ruck without a specialised backup for a handful of weeks in which he performed admirably. Seaby returned to his position as secondary ruckman when Cox returned from injury and went on to be part of West Coast's 2006 Premiership team. He maintained his position during the 2007 season, continuing as backup to Dean Cox and occasionally playing as a tall forward.
2008 was a poor season for Seaby. He played many games in the WAFL in 2008 because of Dean Cox's stellar form (despite a broken foot) and Quinten Lynch
's ability to pinch-hit in the ruck whilst contributing more around the ground.
He officially announced his intentions of leaving the West Coast Eagles on 2 October 2009. The Eagles then traded Seaby to the Sydney Swans
for its second round draft pick (#22 overall) in a complex three-team deal, involving Amon Buchanan
who was traded to Brisbane
. In the same deal, the Brisbane Lions get Buchanan and Brent Staker
and lose Bradd Dalziell
to the Eagles along with pick number 28 to the Swans. The Swans also trade their pick number 22 to the Eagles. At the Swans, he was given the number 1 guernsey, previously worn by Barry Hall
.
Seaby suffered an ankle injury in the opening minute of the Swans' 20-point win over the Brisbane Lions
and subsequently missed the remainder of the season. The Swans however were not disadvantaged by the injury; as they had also picked up Shane Mumford
in a trade from Geelong Cats.
Australian rules football
Australian rules football, officially known as Australian football, also called football, Aussie rules or footy is a sport played between two teams of 22 players on either...
er currently playing for the Sydney Swans
Sydney Swans
The Sydney Swans Football Club is an Australian rules football club which plays in the Australian Football League . The club is based in Sydney, New South Wales. The club, founded in 1874, was known as the South Melbourne Football Club until it relocated to Sydney in 1982 to become the Sydney...
in the Australian Football League
Australian Football League
The Australian Football League is both the governing body and the major professional competition in the sport of Australian rules football...
.
He is best known as a former premiership player with the West Coast Eagles
West Coast Eagles
The West Coast Eagles are an Australian rules football club which plays in the Australian Football League. The club is based in Perth, Western Australia. The club was founded in 1986 and played its first games in the 1987 season. Its current home ground is Subiaco Oval...
.
Biography
Originally from country Western Australia, Seaby was recruited from West PerthWest Perth Football Club
The West Perth Football Club, nicknamed the Falcons, is an Australian rules football club located in Joondalup, Western Australia, competing in the West Australian Football League . It is the oldest existing Australian rules football club in Western Australia. It competes in the West Australian...
at pick 22 in the 2001 AFL Draft
2001 AFL Draft
The 2001 AFL Draft consisted of a national draft, a rookie draft, a pre-season draft and a trade period. The AFL Draft is the annual draft of players by Australian rules football teams that participate in the main competition of that sport, the Australian Football League .In 2001 there were 83...
by the West Coast Eagles
West Coast Eagles
The West Coast Eagles are an Australian rules football club which plays in the Australian Football League. The club is based in Perth, Western Australia. The club was founded in 1986 and played its first games in the 1987 season. Its current home ground is Subiaco Oval...
. He made his senior AFL debut in Round 4, 2004 against the Brisbane Lions
Brisbane Lions
The Brisbane Lions is an Australian rules football club which plays in the Australian Football League . The club is based in Brisbane, Queensland. The club was formed from the merger of the Brisbane Bears and the Fitzroy Lions in 1996...
and became a regular player that season due to injury issues with senior ruckman Michael Gardiner
Michael Gardiner
Michael S. Gardiner is a former Australian rules footballer in the Australian Football League. He played for the West Coast Eagles from 1997–2006 and the St Kilda Football Club from 2007–2011.- Early life :...
. While Gardiner's understudy Dean Cox rose to prominence, Seaby served as a secondary ruckmman into 2005, occasionally being used as a tall forward option with some success. In early 2006 his chances of maintaining his position received a boost with Gardiner receiving an indefinite suspension from the club due to disciplinary issues.
After being relegated to the WAFL upon the return of Gardiner in Round 13, he was brought back when Dean Cox broke his collarbone in the same game. He and Gardiner's first tandem game was a blowout, with Hawthorn
Hawthorn Football Club
The Hawthorn Football Club, nicknamed the Hawks, is a professional Australian rules football club in the Australian Football League . The club, founded in 1902, is the youngest of the Victorian-based teams in the AFL. The team play in Brown & Gold vertically striped guernseys...
's Peter Everitt
Peter Everitt
Peter "Spida" Everitt is a former Australian rules footballer who played for St Kilda, Hawthorn Hawks and the Sydney Swans in the AFL. He made his debut for St Kilda in 1993 and in 2003 began playing for Hawthorn. Everitt was traded to the Sydney Swans at the end of 2006. Following the club's 2008...
beating them convincingly. Their next, and last, was largely better, with Seaby getting a season-high 31 hitouts. Gardiner was fined and again suspended indefinitely after a drunken car crash just days later, leaving Seaby to ruck without a specialised backup for a handful of weeks in which he performed admirably. Seaby returned to his position as secondary ruckman when Cox returned from injury and went on to be part of West Coast's 2006 Premiership team. He maintained his position during the 2007 season, continuing as backup to Dean Cox and occasionally playing as a tall forward.
2008 was a poor season for Seaby. He played many games in the WAFL in 2008 because of Dean Cox's stellar form (despite a broken foot) and Quinten Lynch
Quinten Lynch
Quinten Peter Lynch is a West Coast Eagles Australian rules footballer. He mainly plays at full forward and centre half forward, and is a regular goal-kicker.-Career:...
's ability to pinch-hit in the ruck whilst contributing more around the ground.
He officially announced his intentions of leaving the West Coast Eagles on 2 October 2009. The Eagles then traded Seaby to the Sydney Swans
Sydney Swans
The Sydney Swans Football Club is an Australian rules football club which plays in the Australian Football League . The club is based in Sydney, New South Wales. The club, founded in 1874, was known as the South Melbourne Football Club until it relocated to Sydney in 1982 to become the Sydney...
for its second round draft pick (#22 overall) in a complex three-team deal, involving Amon Buchanan
Amon Buchanan
Amon Buchanan is an Australian rules football player from the Brisbane Lions of the AFL.- :Buchanan grew up in the Victorian town of Colac, west of Melbourne. He played football for Colac and the Geelong Falcons Under 18's team, winning a premiership with the Falcons in 2000 and subsequently...
who was traded to Brisbane
Brisbane Lions
The Brisbane Lions is an Australian rules football club which plays in the Australian Football League . The club is based in Brisbane, Queensland. The club was formed from the merger of the Brisbane Bears and the Fitzroy Lions in 1996...
. In the same deal, the Brisbane Lions get Buchanan and Brent Staker
Brent Staker
Brent Staker is an Australian rules footballer in the AFL, who plays for the Brisbane Lions.-Early life:Staker grew up in Broken Hill in remote country New South Wales....
and lose Bradd Dalziell
Bradd Dalziell
Bradd Dalziell is an Australian Rules footballer for the West Coast Eagles in the Australian Football League . He was drafted to the Brisbane Lions with selection 52 of 2007 AFL National Draft from the East Fremantle Football Club in the West Australian Football League.-WAFL:Bradd Dalziell...
to the Eagles along with pick number 28 to the Swans. The Swans also trade their pick number 22 to the Eagles. At the Swans, he was given the number 1 guernsey, previously worn by Barry Hall
Barry Hall
Barry Hall is a former Australian rules footballer. Hall is considered to be one of the best forwards of the modern era, being named All-Australian, leading his club's goalkicking on nine occasions and captaining the Sydney Swans to their 2005 AFL Grand Final victory...
.
Seaby suffered an ankle injury in the opening minute of the Swans' 20-point win over the Brisbane Lions
Brisbane Lions
The Brisbane Lions is an Australian rules football club which plays in the Australian Football League . The club is based in Brisbane, Queensland. The club was formed from the merger of the Brisbane Bears and the Fitzroy Lions in 1996...
and subsequently missed the remainder of the season. The Swans however were not disadvantaged by the injury; as they had also picked up Shane Mumford
Shane Mumford
Shane Mumford is an Australian rules footballer who played for the Geelong Football Club in the Australian Football League , until he was traded to the Sydney Swans at the end of 2009.-Early career:...
in a trade from Geelong Cats.