Sean Wight

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Sean Wight
Personal information
Full nameJohn Phillip Wight
Date of birth(1964-03-15)15 March 1964
Place of birthGlasgow, Scotland
Date of death30 June 2011(2011-06-30) (aged 47)
Place of deathEast Melbourne, Victoria
Original teamKerry
Height/Weight185 cm / 85 kg
Position(s)Defender
Playing career1
YearsClubGames (Goals)
1985–1995Melbourne150 (63)
1 Playing statistics correct to end of 1995 season.

John Phillip "Sean" Wight (15 March 1964 – 30 June 2011) was a Scottish-Australian Australian rules footballer in the VFL/AFL.

He is a member of the Melbourne Football Club Hall of Fame[1] and was named as one of the 150 Heroes of the club during the club's 150th celebrations.[2]

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.[2]

Early life

He 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.[2] 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 final of the 1982 All-Ireland Minor Football Championship and with the Listowel Emmets club - the same club as Tadhg Kennelly.

VFL/AFL career

Sean Wight made his VFL debut in 1985[2] and became a regular backline player, recognisable with his trademark moustache.

Wight played in two Demons night premiership winning sides, in 1987 and 1989.[2]

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.[2]

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 died on 30 June 2011 after a short battle with lung cancer.[3]

See also

  • List of overseas-born AFL players
  • Irish Experiment

References

  1. ↑ http://www.matesofmelbourne.com.au/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=22&Itemid=39
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 2.5 Carroll, Lynda (30 June 2011). "Vale Sean Wight". Melbourne Football Club. Retrieved 30 June 2011. 
  3. ↑ Ex-Demon Wight dies of cancer, ABC News, 30 June 2011.
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