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 June 28, 2025
Janelle Puppa Real Estate UNDER 18s Seymour 6.8.44 def by Kyabram 8.8.56 Best: B McCarthy, Z Brown, H Thomson, D Davis, L Sainsbury Goals: R Kennedy 3, J Mansfield 2, H Thomson 1 O'Keefe's IGA Seymour Reserves Seymour 10.9.69 def by Kyabram 13.4.82 The undermanned Lions knew they were up for a tough test against the top of the table Bombers. Kyabram kicked five goals in the first quarter with Seymour struggling to move the ball forward. After the first break it was a different story with the Lions winning the final three quarters on the scoreboard and taking it right up to a high quality opposition. Unfortunately, the slow start left the Lions with too much to do, going down by 13 points. Will Le Deux was by far the best player on the ground, dominating around stoppages, finding space and kicking four goals from the middle. Cam Osmond won plenty of footy further up the ground while Joel Durham battled hard all day in the ruck without any respite. Sam Fuhrmeister took on a tough job down back and held his own, with Ollie Munro providing a target in the forward half of the ground. A big thank you to the Under 18s boys who stood up and filled in. Hugh Murphy kicked a great goal and Lachlan Donnelly completed a run down tackle for the ages. A great effort from the Lions who will be strengthened by some returning players after the bye. Best: W Le Deux, C Osmond, J Durham, S Fuhrmeister, O Munro Goals: W Le Deux 4, O Munro 2, J Mann 1, M Itter 1, H Murphy 1, J Badger 1 Seymour Club Seniors Seymour 7.8.50 def by Kyabram 20.16.136 It was always going to be a tough ask for the Lions against an undefeated Ky and so it proved to be. Seymour was right in the game early, gaining an early lead before going into the first break just 3 points down. From there it was all one was traffic with the Lions going down by 86 points. In some good news, Nic Quigg made a successful return, kicking a couple of goals to go with plenty of disposals. Lachlan Beattie was tenacious in the back half and even managed to kick his first goal for the Lions late in the day. His attack on the footy and tenacity was matched by Darcy Giles and Lachy Giles who played an important role through the middle of the ground. The Lions will be looking to bounce back against the Swans after a week off. Best: N Quigg, L Beattie, J Murphy, D Giles, L Giles Goals: N Quigg 2, N Beattie 1, R Schraven 1, C Lubeck 1, L Beattie 1, D Giles 1
June 28, 2025
Australian Trenching & Excavations UNDER 15s Seymour 36 def Kyabram 23 It was a bright and early start for the girls against Kyabram. The Under 15s girls played a ripper of a game with all of them showing off their skill and ability throughout the game. Eden Webster created many turnovers and touches in the defensive end, earning her the award for the day. Izzy Gordon did amazing work, applying pressure all the way down the court and playing in new positions. Charlotte Bradley was very accurate, scoring most of our goals. Good work girls! Whistle Award: Eden Webster Trawool Shed - Cafe, Cottages & Restaurant UNDER 17s Seymour 37 def Kyabram 34 Taylah Mason received best on in today’s match for her continuous work ethic throughout the court. Taylah created great pressure down the court and caused a lot of turnovers. Paige Cooper had a great game. She hunted down some great balls coming into the circle and took clean turnovers. Ivy Watson played GA and WA. Her front drives in WA always provided the girls with a clear option. Ivy’s hard work around the circle was amazing. O’Sullivan Builders Award: Taylah Mason Rooks Pizza Award: Paige Cooper O’SULLIVAN BUILDERS B RESERVE Seymour 60 def Kyabram 34 The team remained consistent defensively, keeping Kyabram to no more than 10 goals a quarter. Ruby Trimble was amazing in WD, creating havoc for Kyabram’s attackers. The team played with control and composure to get the win. Layne Lewis and Casey Drummond were settled and smart through the midcourt. Chloe Locke was a threat at both ends, reading the play well and contributing to the team’s win. Club Dinner: Ruby Trimble Inari Sushi Award: Layne Lewis Seymour Hardware Group B GRADE Seymour 52 def Kyabram 29 The Lions got off to a flawless start in the game which gave us a lead in every quarter. The Lions capitalised on early turnovers to take the game on. The midcourt team of Courtney Aldous, Eleisha Saunders, Sophie Rutherford and Andy McKenzie worked really hard to get our shooters the ball. Well done everyone on a smashing game to celebrate Sophie Rutherford and Ashlyn Webster’s 100th games. Cafe 96 Award: Sophie Rutherford Canteen Award: Courtney Aldous Beer Auto Group Seymour A GRADE Seymour 62 def Kyabram 31 Ellie Fuhrmeister started strong with accurate shooting, scoring nine of the ten goals in the first quarter. An evenly matched second quarter saw the Lions use different strategic plays to work the ball down the court. Ruby Martin and Sarah Szczykulski took crucial intercepts that led to goals. Olivia Barry’s speed and determination for the ball gave the attacking end strong feeds and plenty of options.
By Mitch Itter June 26, 2025
The Seymour Lions are excited to announce a series of school holiday netball clinics for young players looking to sharpen their skills, build confidence, and have a whole lot of fun on the court. Designed for passionate junior netballers from across the region, these full-day clinics offer a fantastic opportunity to learn from some of the best. For just $50 per participant, attendees will be coached by Seymour’s Head Coach, Casey Adamson, who brings a wealth of professional experience to the court. With a strong background in elite-level netball, Casey is eager to share her insights, techniques, and love for the game with the next generation of netball stars. She will be joined by a selection of Seymour’s top senior netballers, who will lend their skills and enthusiasm to the sessions, making it a truly valuable and inspiring experience for every participant. The clinics will be held at Kings Park Netball Courts and run from 9:00am to 3:00pm. Clinic Dates: Tuesday 8th July – for children aged 9 to 11 Thursday 17th July – for children aged 12 to 14 The clinics cater to a range of skill levels and are a great way to stay active, make new friends, and develop a deeper love for netball during the school break. Spots are limited, so early registration is encouraged. To book your place and learn more about the clinics, visit: https://www.seymourlions.com.au/category/school-holiday-netball-clinics
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