Sean Wight
Encyclopedia
John Phillip "Sean" Wight (15 March 1964 – 30 June 2011) was a Scottish-Australian Australian rules football
er in the VFL/AFL.
He is a member of the Melbourne Football Club Hall of Fame and was named as one of the 150 Heroes of the club during the club's 150th celebrations.
The 185 cm tall, 85 kg Wight played for the Melbourne Football Club
between 1985 and 1995, playing 150 games and scoring 63 goals. He is not only the first player to be associated with the Irish experiment
, but also considered to be one of its most successful products.
and Barry Richardson on a visit to Ireland in 1982 as having the potential to play Australian rules football. Wight was brought to Australia in 1985.
Before playing Australian rules he played Gaelic football with the Kerry
minor (Under-18) team which reached the 1982 All Ireland Final
and with the Listowel Emmets club - the same club as Tadhg Kennelly
.
Wight played in two Demons night premiership winning sides, in 1987 and 1989.
He began to develop a reputation as a dour defender, with an exceptional ability to not only spoil opponents marking attempts, but take high marks himself.
Wight, along with fellow recruit Jim Stynes
was a member of Melbourne's 1988 VFL Grand Final
team which lost to Hawthorn
.
Retiring in 1995, Wight's career was somewhat overshadowed by Jim Stynes, whose career in the midfield earned more accolades and media attention.
Sean Wight passed away on 30 June 2011 after a short battle with lung cancer
.
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 in the VFL/AFL.
He is a member of the Melbourne Football Club Hall of Fame and was named as one of the 150 Heroes of the club during the club's 150th celebrations.
The 185 cm tall, 85 kg Wight played for the Melbourne Football Club
Melbourne Football Club
The Melbourne Football Club, nicknamed The Demons, is an Australian rules football club playing in the Australian Football League , based in Melbourne, Victoria....
between 1985 and 1995, playing 150 games and scoring 63 goals. He is not only the first player to be associated with the Irish experiment
Irish experiment
The Irish Experiment is the popular name for the interest, primarily from VFL/AFL clubs, in bringing Irish sportspeople to Australia to play Australian Rules Football professionally ....
, but also considered to be one of its most successful products.
Early life
He was scouted by the Melbourne Football Club's Ron BarassiRon Barassi
Ronald Dale Barassi, Jr AM is a former Australian rules football player and coach. During a long and decorated career, Barassi has been one of the most important figures in the history of Australian football. His father, Ron Barassi, Sr., was the first Australian footballer killed at Tobruk during...
and Barry Richardson on a visit to Ireland in 1982 as having the potential to play Australian rules football. Wight was brought to Australia in 1985.
Before playing Australian rules he played Gaelic football with the Kerry
Kerry GAA
The Kerry County Board of the Gaelic Athletic Association is one of the 32 county boards of the GAA in Ireland, and is responsible for Gaelic games in County Kerry...
minor (Under-18) team which reached the 1982 All Ireland Final
All-Ireland Minor Football Championship
The All-Ireland Minor Football Championship is the premier "knockout" competition for under-18 competitors of the game of Gaelic football played in Ireland...
and with the Listowel Emmets club - the same club as Tadhg Kennelly
Tadhg Kennelly
Tadhg Kennelly is an Irish sportsperson known for his top level careers in both Gaelic football and Australian rules football....
.
VFL/AFL career
Sean Wight made his VFL debut in 1985 and became a regular backline player, recognisable with his trademark moustache.Wight played in two Demons night premiership winning sides, in 1987 and 1989.
He began to develop a reputation as a dour defender, with an exceptional ability to not only spoil opponents marking attempts, but take high marks himself.
Wight, along with fellow recruit Jim Stynes
Jim Stynes
James "Jim" Stynes OAM is an Irish former professional Australian rules footballer who is currently a businessman, philanthropist, writer, youth worker, qualified teacher and chairman of Melbourne Football Club since 2008....
was a member of Melbourne's 1988 VFL Grand Final
1988 VFL Grand Final
The 1988 VFL Grand Final was an Australian rules football game contested between the Hawthorn Football Club and the Melbourne Football Club, held at the Melbourne Cricket Ground in Melbourne on 24 September 1988. It was the 92nd annual Grand Final of the Victorian Football League, staged to...
team which lost to 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...
.
Retiring in 1995, Wight's career was somewhat overshadowed by Jim Stynes, whose career in the midfield earned more accolades and media attention.
Sean Wight passed away on 30 June 2011 after a short battle with lung cancer
Lung cancer
Lung cancer is a disease characterized by uncontrolled cell growth in tissues of the lung. If left untreated, this growth can spread beyond the lung in a process called metastasis into nearby tissue and, eventually, into other parts of the body. Most cancers that start in lung, known as primary...
.