Mark Seaby (born 1 May 1984) is an Australian rules footballer who plays for the Sydney Swans in the Australian Football League.

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 specialized 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.

[edit] External links

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

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