GVL Hall of Fame Inductee: Matthew O'Sullivan

 2024 GOTAFE Goulburn Valley League Hall of Fame Inductee 

Matthew O’Sullivan

When looking through the list of top footballers in the GVL you come across many who not only succeed at football, but excel in other sports as well. The GVL now inducts such a person who would have to be regarded as the best all round sportsman at 
Seymour Football Netball Club

Matthew O’Sullivan is a part of a well-known Seymour family who have produced top sports performers as well as taking on important roles as administrators and supporters.

Matts football life began as many Seymour players have, as a junior at St. Marys junior football club in the under 10s. After juniors, he was elevated into the Seymour 3rds in 1983 where he played under the coaching of Robin Gardener.

He took to the game with gusto and it was no surprise when he became a member of his beloved Seymour Lions senior team in 1985 after playing 6 reserves games. Peter Gorski was the coach.

Matt relished the opportunity to play with top players and in his second season in 1986 he won the Seymour Best player award. By 1987 he was the senior captain of the Lions. He settled in to the team as a top player and guided the Lions during their team building towards the ultimate prize which came in 1991 when the Lions defeated Tongala by 9 points to become GVL premiers.

Then there were some lean years during the nineties when Matt played his heart out in a club which was struggling to play finals.

He was selected to represent the League on 7 occasions and loved the opportunity to be involved in Interleague games and enjoyed wearing the purple and gold GVL jumper. He appreciated the friends he made and the opportunity to play with top players in the League. He also won the Shepparton News Award selected by the News football writers.

He took the opportunity to accept a coaching role with the Broadford club in 1995 & 6 then returned to the Lion’s Den. At the end of the nineties, he decided to retire on 199 games. However, he was talked into returning to play 2 years later to notch up his 200th game. This gave him a qualified Life membership of the GVL to add to his Life membership of Seymour. In 2000 he was named in the Seymour Team of the century.

Following his playing days, he remained highly involved with the club. He was president of Seymour in 2001 and 2002 and then was a selector on the match committee for the premiership years of 2005 & 6.

Matt also supported junior football as coach of St. Marys under 16s from 2009 – 2011 and moved on to coach the Seymour 3rds from 2012 to 2014 which was a grand final year. He coached the Reserves in 2016 & 17 and also spent more time on the match committee. What a wonderful commitment to Seymour.

In the year 2017 only 2 players in the Seymour senior team had not been coached by Matthew. It is also important to note that Matt did not receive any money from the Seymour club either as a player, an administrator or a coach. His commitment was voluntary.

As mentioned, Matt has also excelled in other sports. He was amongst the best performers in the Seymour Cricket Association, he is a champion lawn bowler, and plays golf off scratch.

With that wonderful sporting record and an example of what a dedicated player can do for a club he loves. It is with great pleasure that we welcome Matthew O’Sullivan as a member of the GVL Hall of Fame.

Seymour FNC News

By Mitch Itter September 29, 2025
Big news has emerged from Seymour following the conclusion of the 2025 Goulburn Valley League season. Re-signings, new signings, and key appointments have Lions fans excited for 2026. History will be made at The Den, with Senior Co-Coach Ben Davey re-appointed for another season. Davey will become Seymour’s longest-serving senior coach, marking seven years in the role. Club legend Bernie Habermann previously held the record with six seasons. Jack Murphy will also continue as Senior Co-Coach after a sensational first year on the field, taking on additional responsibilities with great success. Seymour President Peter Elliott said the club was thrilled to have continuity in the football department heading into 2026. “We’re incredibly fortunate to have Ben and Murph re-commit for another year, and it’s set to be a huge season at The Den,” he said. “Ben is a legend of our club – a dual senior premiership player, Reserves premiership coach, and now our longest-serving senior coach in history, while Murph is fresh off another Best and Fairest. “Both Ben and Murph are high-quality, local people who will drive our club to new heights next year. “While this season didn’t go as planned, our list is hungry and can’t wait to get back on the track.” A couple of star recruits will bolster the Seymour midfield when pre-season kicks off. “With most of our senior list re-committing early for 2026, we’ve been able to add some exciting new players,” Mr Elliott said. “Xavier Dimasi returns to where he made his senior debut, following time in the VFL at Box Hill and a dominant period at Whittlesea. “He’ll be joined by Jaron Murphy, his former partner in crime from Whittlesea and a great player in his own right, who will add plenty of run and carry to our senior side.  “On behalf of the Seymour community, I’d like to welcome Xavier, Jaron and their families to The Den and we’re all looking forward to seeing them strut their stuff.”
September 15, 2025
O’SULLIVAN BUILDERS B RESERVE Seymour 38 def Rochester 24 The first quarter started with great intensity as the momentum swung back and forth. The Lions had a terrific second quarter and changes helped the team push just in front at the main break. Confident shooting from Shona Gesler, Chloe Locke and Mia Allen added scoreboard pressure. Grace Barry was doing a thankless task at keeping her opponent limited. Well done girls on booking your spot in the Grand Final! Seymour Hardware Group B GRADE Seymour 43 def Euroa 42 The whole game both teams were evenly matched. The Lions went into the second half of the game five goals down. With a few changes late in the game the Lions were able to get the upper hand and win by a goal. Our pressure in defence was amazing. Everyone did a great job. See you in the Grand Final next week! Beer Auto Group Seymour A GRADE Seymour 34 def by Euroa 73 The match began with a thrilling exchange of goals, as both teams showcased their determination. Euroa quickly capitalised on the Lions' early misses, establishing an early lead. In response, the Lions implemented a catch-up strategy, making early substitutions to utilise their bench effectively and minimise the damage. Despite their efforts, Euroa demonstrated their status as the reigning Premiers of 2024. Sarah Szczykulski was a standout in defense, working tirelessly to thwart Euroa's advances, while Ally Black excelled in the midcourt, delivering precise passes to Ruby Martin. Martin showcased her shooting skills, converting opportunities with remarkable accuracy. Although the Lions faced a heavy loss, which was not the desired outcome for the conclusion of the 2025 season, there is optimism for the future. The development of the younger players within the squad offers hope that the Lions can emerge as strong contenders in the GVL moving forward.
September 14, 2025
O'Keefe's IGA Seymour Reserves Seymour 6.5.41 def Mansfield 4.4.28 After a tough defeat against Kyabram last week, the Reserves were ready to take advantage of their second chance to book their place in the Grand Final. Mansfield had the wind advantage in the first quarter, making plenty of the play but they were held goalless by a determined Seymour backline. In the second term the game remained even, with neither team able to gain the upper hand before Seymour took the lead late in the third, a lead they did not relinquish for the remainder of the game. Curtis Powell was dominant through the middle of the ground, backing up his ball winning prowess with a couple of crucial goals. Alex Elliott continued his solid finals form with another strong performance, while Nick Dundon provided run and carry all day, driving the Lions into attack. Down back, Scott McMaster and Sam Fuhrmeister repelled countless Mansfield entries, intercept marking at will, with McMaster running hard of half back. A great win ahead of a massive rematch against Kyabram in the Grand Final.  Best: C Powell, A Elliott, N Dundon, S McMaster, S Fuhrmeister Goals: C Powell 2, J Davey 2, W Le Deux 1, J Radford 1
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