Golden Soft Sombrero Moment with Sean Wight

Achievements:                       

Irish AFL Football Star…confusing? Well read on amigo

Diegos Verdict:                       

After a long and distinguished career kicking the pigskin around in the AFL, this former Irish Gaelic football star decided to try his hand at world footy with the Carlton Soccer Club in 1998.

Unfortunately one too many hay makers and squirrel grips at training put an end to his soccer career way before it had even started but gee his short stint certainly toughened up the ‘Bluebloods’ for the season ahead.

Some Golden Soft Sombrero Moments with Sean Wight

Wight on taking big Jezza’s over Jonesy…

Diegos: “When you first went down to the Carlton Soccer Club to train did Eddie Krncevic have a go at you for trying to take ‘big marks’ over John Markovski?”

Wight: “He actually said that he understood why I was doing it because John Markovski looks just like Tony Lockett from the behind.

He is the ‘Plugger’ of Aussie soccer and he offers such a fantastic target to jump over.”

Soft Sombrero Moment 1998

Wight on Barassi…

Diegos: “All those years ago when the poster went up in your home town in Ireland that a bloke named Ron Barassi was come to town to recruit players, did you think that with a name like Barassi that finally the head coach of AC Milan was heading in to give you your big chance to play professional football in Serie A?”

Wight: “It’s amazing because from I come from in Scotland there’s a town about two miles down the road called ‘Barassi’. Would you believe that?

Obviously there is a connection. So I guess we can lay claim to Ron Barassi long before you guys can.”

Soft Sombrero Moment 1998

Wight on his favourite code…

Diegos: “Having played Gaelic, soccer and Aussie Rules, what’s your favourite code?”

Wight: “I must admit and I’ve never hedged on this, even when I was at the height of my illustrious career in the AFL, soccer has always been my number one.

There’s never been any doubt about it. For 18 years of my life that is all I wanted to do.”

Soft Sombrero Moment 1998

Wight on goal celebrations…

Diegos: “The Diegos have noticed that over the years AFL footballers have become more animated in their celebration when kicking a goal – a pat on a firm backside or an intimate hug but soccer players have always held a monopoly on kissing and ravaging each other.

How’s it been at Carlton training? Is it the kissing and licking of earlobes or the firm pat on the backside?”

Wight: “I think the conundrum is that when I do score at training no one can actually believe it.

I think everybody gets into a state of shock and don’t know what to do.

They basically leave me alone anyway. It must be because I’m such a big macho Aussie rules man.”

Soft Sombrero Moment 1998

Wight on those baggy soccer shorts…

Diegos: “There’s much speculation about what Scotsmen wear under their kilt.

The Diegos are wondering what you wear under your big baggy soccer shorts?”

Wight: “This is one of the good things about coming back to soccer.

Those breezy, baggy, roomy shorts that you guys wear just gives you the total freedom to enjoy the pleasures of life.

Those Aussie rules footy shorts might be good for the girls but from the players point of view they tend to wander up into areas where the sun don’t sun and that can be uncomfortable.”

Soft Sombrero Moment 1998

Wight on the AFL presence in Aussie soccer…

Diegos: “We have in recent times seen a greater Aussie rules presence in Australian soccer.

We’ve had the ill-fated Collingwood Warriors, the Carlton Soccer Club and just recently a proposed investment by Flying Start Promotions.

Why do you think this is the case?”

Wight: “I think from the point of view of Collingwood and Carlton, they have a responsibility to their members. The Collingwood venture was a great idea but unfortunately it wasn’t managed very well.

I think Carlton have started really well by bringing a high quality group of players together and giving them a full time environment as well.

With reference to Flying Start they recognize that there is an untapped marketplace. With the World cup coming up next year this can only benefit everybody.”

Diegos: “Can you see any parallels with the way clubs are run in the AFL and the Carlton Soccer Club?’

Wight: “I actually think that the Carlton Soccer Club are a few steps ahead of the AFL.

Certainly from what they’ve done putting all the players on professional full time contracts. I think that is a very smart move. They have got some fantastic people in their organization.

What this club is creating is a new climate and new environment for success and I think everyone is going to see the results in the very near future.’”

Soft Sombrero Moment 1998

Wight on sacking coaches…

Diegos: “Soccer clubs are notorious for sacking coaches.

We know that you were on the Melbourne footy club board during the sacking of Neil Balme.

As a member of a board that has freshly sacked a coach, do you think that clubs make a big mistake in looking to turnover coaches too quickly and use the coaches as a scapegoat for performance?”

Wight: “I think you used a very good term and that is ‘scapegoat’.

The unfortunate scenario is the coach cops it in the back of the neck even though he hasn’t got the cattle to work with.

I think greater analysis has got to be made to find out where the club is going wrong.

To make a snap decision often leads you to sullying your reputation in the marketplace which can mean bigger problems in the future.”

Soft Sombrero Moment 1998