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Sean Wight

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Australian rules footballer (1964–2011) For those of a similar name, see Sean Whyte (disambiguation).

Australian rules footballer
Sean Wight
Personal information
Full name John Phillip Wight
Date of birth (1964-03-15)15 March 1964
Place of birth Glasgow, Scotland
Date of death 30 June 2011(2011-06-30) (aged 47)
Place of death East Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
Original team(s) Listowel Emmets (club)/ Kerry (county team)
Height 185 cm (6 ft 1 in)
Weight 85 kg (187 lb)
Position(s) Defender
Playing career
Years Club Games (Goals)
1984–1995 Melbourne 150 (63)
Playing statistics correct to the end of 1995.
Career highlights
Sources: AFL Tables, AustralianFootball.com

John Phillip "Sean" Wight (15 March 1964 – 30 June 2011) was an Irish-Australian Australian rules footballer 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.

Early life

Wight was born in Glasgow Scotland to mother Peggy of Listowel and Scottish father John. As a 13 year old Sean moved with his family to his mother's native Listowel in Ireland in 1978 where he was raised in where he took up gaelic football.

He played Gaelic football with the Kerry minor (Under-18) team which reached the final of the 1982 All-Ireland Minor Football Championship and with the Listowel Emmets club – the same club as Tadhg Kennelly.

Wight was scouted by the Melbourne Football Club's Ron Barassi 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 1983. He was part of an Under 19 VFL premiership side just weeks after his arrival from Ireland in 1983 and was widely hailed for his rapid conversion, though others who joined him from Ireland had much less success.

VFL/AFL career

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 Irish 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 Stynes, whose career in the midfield earned more accolades and media attention.

Death

Wight died on 30 June 2011 after a short battle with lung cancer.

See also

References

  1. "Mark Richardson - Red Winemaker". Archived from the original on 7 October 2008. Retrieved 7 April 2009.
  2. ^ Carroll, Lynda (30 June 2011). "Vale Sean Wight". Melbourne Football Club. Archived from the original on 20 March 2012. Retrieved 30 June 2011.
  3. Former Demon Sean Wight dies of cancer from The West Australian 30 June 2011
  4. ^ Sean Wight the forgotten Kerry hero by Donal Barry for Kerry Sports Hub 21 March 2020
  5. A giant, a gent and a friend from The Independent 6 July 2011
  6. "First-season gaelic footballer wins medal". The Canberra Times. Vol. 58, no. 17, 528. Australian Capital Territory, Australia. 25 September 1983. p. 28. Retrieved 11 January 2022 – via National Library of Australia.
  7. Ex-Demon Wight dies of cancer, ABC News, 30 June 2011.
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