Two paths, one big talent
EVEN Launceston gun Fletcher Seymour wonders what could have been if he had focused on footy earlier instead of cricket.
The sliding doors moment came when the then 15-yearold was picked for an Australian underage cricket side, so he followed the path of leather on willow rather than leather on boot.
Now, having put the whites away and focused solely on football, Seymour has been the TSL’s most improved player in 2019, with Clarence coach Jeromey Webberley calling him the league’s premier inside on-baller and finishing runner up in the media-voted TSL player of the year despite being rested in the last game.
He was certainly no mug with bat or ball, with the allrounder earning a rookie contract with Cricket Tasmania and helping Clarence to a CTPL premiership as well as representing the state and country at underage level.
Today’s prelim final venue for the clash with Lauderdale, Blundstone Arena, certainly holds no fears for Seymour, having played cricket and football for Clarence there and trained with CT while rookie contracted. But the unknown question is could the son of former Launceston playing coach, and Richmond, Collingwood and Sydney footballer Michael Lockman, follow his dad’s footsteps all the way to the AFL?
“It always crosses my mind,” Seymour, 21, said of a possible AFL career. “If I had at 12 or 13 decided footy was my go, it could have been, but I think Tassie getting a VFL team the year after next, that is what I’m definitely aiming for and if I can get myself in good enough fitness and earn a spot, that is definitely a goal.”
He fully understands his fitness standards aren’t at the level required to compete with full or semi-professional players just yet having only done one football pre-season with cricket commitments.
“I’m under no illusions my personal habits aren’t what they need to be,” he said.
“Certainly when I was trying for cricket I got myself in pretty good physical condition.
“I have got no doubts I can do that, but it is just making a few lifestyle changes that I need to do.
“Mainly diet, more training, a bigger pre-season and keeping my running levels up to where they need to be.”
The other factor in Fletcher’s sliding doors moment was the lack of a clear pathway for footballers at that time as opposed to the summer sport.
“I probably always enjoyed playing footy more, but at 15 I made an underage Australian cricket team and from there it was always the No.1 choice because that is what progressed earlier and quicker,” Seymour said.
“As soon as you can see a pathway in one sport you jump at it and that was cricket. That’s the really exciting thing for Tasmanian football. Back when I was that age there wasn’t a clear pathway, but now with all the Devils programs in place, it makes it a lot easier for juniors to choose a sport.”