Sean Wight

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

For those of a similar name, see Sean Whyte (disambiguation).

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
Original team(s) Kerry
Height 185 cm (6 ft 1 in)
Weight 85 kg (187 lb)
Position(s) Defender
Playing career1
Years Club Games (Goals)
1984–1995 Melbourne 150 (63)
1 Playing statistics correct to the end of 1995.
Career highlights
Sources: AFL Tables, AustralianFootball.com

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

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.[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

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

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

See also

References
  1. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 7 October 2008. Retrieved 7 April 2009.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  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. Ex-Demon Wight dies of cancer, ABC News, 30 June 2011.
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