Ken Seymour

Ken Seymour (born 16 September 1930) is a former Australian rules footballer who played with Fitzroy and South Melbourne in the Victorian Football League (VFL).

Ken Seymour
Personal information
Full name Kenneth Seymour
Date of birth (1930-09-16) 16 September 1930
Height 185 cm (6 ft 1 in)
Weight 103 kg (227 lb)
Playing career1
Years Club Games (Goals)
1951–1955 Brunswick
1956 Fitzroy 04 (1)
1956–1957 South Melbourne 08 (5)
1957–1958 Brunswick
1959–1960 Sunshine
1 Playing statistics correct to the end of 1960.
Sources: AFL Tables, AustralianFootball.com

Football career

Seymour, a follower, started his senior career in the Victorian Football Association (VFA).[1] He played initially in the Brunswick seconds, then after a brief stint at Fitzroy, without playing a league game, was cleared by Fitzroy to Coburg in 1951.[1] Due to a mix up with the permit, as a clearance was also required from Brunswick for him to play at another VFA club, Seymour ended up back at Brunswick.[1] He remained with Brunswick until midway through the 1955 VFA season, which ended early for Seymour when the VFA tribunal handed down a long suspension. Claiming victimisation, Seymour vowed he would never to play VFA football again and began training with Fitzroy.[2][3]

Aged 25, Seymour made his VFL debut in the opening round of the 1956 VFL season, against Footscray at Western Oval, coming on as a reserve.[4] He only played three more games for Fitzroy, then in late June was cleared to South Melbourne.[5] In round 13, Seymour debuted for South Melbourne and remained in the side for the rest of the season. His performance in South Melbourne's win over Footscray at Lake Oval earned praise.[6]

Seymour played two games with South Melbourne the following year, before Brunswick regained his services halfway through the 1957 VFA season.[7]

He was the inaugural captain-coach of VFA club Sunshine when they were admitted into the competition in 1959.[8] Sunshine managed six wins, which placed them 13th on the ladder, from 16 teams.[8] Not long into the 1960 VFA season, Seymour retired from football to open up a business.[9] He ended up reversing his decision six weeks later and resumed his career, only to have it ended two months later when he was suspended until 1962, for his actions in a game against Yarraville.[10] He was charged with treading on an opponent, misconduct against an umpire and three separate striking charges.[10]

In 1962 he was back at Brunswick, but before the season began was de-registered by the VFA, as he was again due to face the tribunal, for disputing an umpires decision and using abusive language, in a practice match.[11]

Over the course of his career in the VFA, Seymour was suspended for a total of 40 weeks.[11][12]

Swimming

Seymour was also a competitive swimmer.[13] In 1948 he unofficially equalled the Australian record for the 110-yard (100 m) breaststroke during a trial swim.[14] He also held the Victorian state record in the 100 yard breast stroke.[15]

His son, Ross Seymour, was an accomplished swimmer, who represented Australia at the 1976 Summer Olympics in Montreal.[13][16]

References
  1. "Permit mix-up on follower Brunswick take Seymour". The Argus. Melbourne: National Library of Australia. 25 April 1951. p. 13. Retrieved 15 March 2015.
  2. "V.F.A. umpires under fire". The Argus. Melbourne: National Library of Australia. 6 July 1955. p. 25. Retrieved 15 March 2015.
  3. "Seymour trains with Maroons". The Argus. Melbourne: National Library of Australia. 27 July 1955. p. 25. Retrieved 15 March 2015.
  4. "A 'Merrett' at Fitzroy". The Argus. Melbourne: National Library of Australia. 19 April 1956. p. 18. Retrieved 15 March 2015.
  5. "Maroon keeping his (bruised) fingers crossed". The Argus. Melbourne: National Library of Australia. 27 June 1956. p. 21. Retrieved 15 March 2015.
  6. "League Snapshots". The Argus. Melbourne: National Library of Australia. 6 August 1956. p. 18. Retrieved 15 March 2015.
  7. Meeking, Michael (21 June 1957). "Powerful Brunswick Side for Main Game". The Age. p. 17. Retrieved 15 March 2015.
  8. Fiddian, Marc (2013). The VFA – A History of the Victorian Football Association 1877 – 1995. Melbourne Sports Books.
  9. Davis, Trevor (10 June 1960). "Yarraville Acts On Slump With Four Changes". The Age. p. 28. Retrieved 15 March 2015.
  10. "VFA player is out till 1962". The Sun News-Pictorial. Melbourne. 17 August 1960. p. 64.
  11. "V.F.A. Bars Ken Seymour". The Age. 30 April 1962. p. 18. Retrieved 15 March 2015.
  12. Holmesby, Russell; Main, Jim (2007). The Encyclopedia Of AFL Footballers. BAS Publishing. ISBN 9781920910785.
  13. Knox, Ken (22 January 1976). "Seymour Swim Captain". The Age. p. 25. Retrieved 14 March 2015.
  14. "Equals Swimming Record". The Advertiser. Adelaide: National Library of Australia. 30 November 1948. p. 7. Retrieved 15 March 2015.
  15. "Swimmers set new records". The Argus. Melbourne: National Library of Australia. 9 December 1948. p. 20. Retrieved 15 March 2015.
  16. "Australian Olympic Committee: Ross Seymour". Australian Olympic Committee. Retrieved 15 March 2015.
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