Mark Seaby

Mark Seaby
Personal information
Full name	Mark Seaby
Date of birth	1 May 1984 (1984-05-01) (age 27)
Original team	West Perth (WAFL)
Draft	22nd overall, 2001 West Coast Eagles
Height/Weight	199cm / 101 kg
Position(s)	Ruckman
Club information
Current club	Sydney Swans
Number	1
Playing career1
Years	Club	Games (Goals)
2004 – 2009 2010 – Total	West Coast Sydney	102 (64) 013 0(4) 115 (68)
1 Playing statistics to end of 2011 season .

Mark Seaby (born 1 May 1984) is a professional Australian rules footballer 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.

Biography

Originally from country Western Australia, Seaby was recruited from West Perth 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.^[1]

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.

References

1. ^ Rogers, Michael (11 January 2010). "Bradshaw inherits O'Loughlin's No.19 guernsey". AFL.com.au. http://www.afl.com.au/news/newsarticle/tabid/208/newsid/88586/default.aspx. 

External links

• Mark Seaby's profile on the Official AFL Website of the West Coast Eagles Football Club
• Mark Seaby's statistics from AFL Tables

Persondata
Name	Seaby, Mark
Alternative names
Short description
Date of birth	1 May 1984
Place of birth
Date of death
Place of death