2024 GOTAFE Goulburn Valley League Hall of Fame Inductee
Shane Schottner
The Seymour Football Netball Club added great strength to the GVL when it transferred from the Waranga North East League in 1976. The club included many top performers who would play a role in premierships and country championship games.
This year we will induct a player who epitomises other Seymour players who have excelled in GVL football.
Shane Schottner was a local Seymour boy who idolised the Lions players when he joined the club as a junior. He would progress through the under 13s, under 15s and under 16s, loving the game and eventually would hold the record for the most senior games as long serving player.
After junior football he burst into the Seymour 3rds in 1994 under Morrison Medal winning coach John Solomon. Shane showed his ability and polled well in best player awards. In his second year 1995 he played so well early in the season that the club selectors promoted him to a senior player during the season. He had arrived as a senior Lion and soon showed why he had been selected.
In recognising his talent, the Lions played him in the full back position in his first year. He showed great promise and played the next two years at full back. Seymour was team building at that time but needed the skills of Shane to hold down major positions. After a few years of playing down back he was moved into the ruck position where he played most of his football.
The GVL selectors were so impressed with his ability that they asked him to represent the League in the Country Championship games. Shane loved representative football and made himself available whenever called upon. He wore the purple and gold colours with distinction In 8 games, including State championship teams in 2005 and 2008. He was also vice-captain of the GVL.
Shane was called upon to coach the Lions in 2003. Shane was playing great football and became the 4th player in the club’s history to win the Morrison Medal as the best player in the League in 2004. The Lions supporters were so proud of him.
In his first 160 games Shane had not played in a final’s series. However, all that was to change when he was involved in a golden era as Seymour won three GVL senior grand finals in 3 years 2005, 2006 and 2007 as well as being runners up in 2008.
Shane was a star who played an important part in that success.
Away from football he was a busy teacher, firstly at Seymour then at Assumption in Kilmore before moving on to St Kevin's College in Melbourne. This meant that he trained one night per week with Seymour players in Melbourne then attended training on Thursday evenings at Seymour. Shane loved the Seymour club so much that he was prepared to travel for eighteen of his twenty years with the Lions.
His wonderful career saw him play 319 games with the Seymour, club which makes him the games record holder. He played in 6 grand finals, 5 in the seniors and one in the thirds.
Shane was captain of the Seymour senior team for eleven years. He was honoured with life membership of Seymour and the GVL. Shane is so proud of being a one club player throughout his career. He is a well-respected person who was loved by the Seymour fans.
The GVL is delighted to induct Shane Schottner into the GVL Hall of Fame.
