Geraldton Mayor’s annual Prayer Breakfast hears from West Coast premiership player Mark Seaby

West Coast premiership player Mark Seaby shared wisdom from his playing days when he was guest speaker at the Geraldton Mayor’s Prayer Breakfast last month.

About 170 people gathered at the QEII Community Centre for the annual breakfast organised by the city’s 23 Christian churches, in partnership with Mayor Shane Van Styn, to offer prayer for the community and its leaders.

Mr Seaby, who played in the Eagles’ 2006 premiership side, grew up on a farm in Mukinbudin and said he always dreamed of being a professional athlete. However, once drafted, he quickly learned that was the easiest part of his career.

Staying in the side, getting picked weekly was the hard part.

Throughout his footballing journey, he realised champions don’t take shortcuts.

“Even for the most talented players, it’s the extra hard work, extra training, extra gym sessions that produce elite players,” he said.

“You can have all the talent in the world, but finishing training early, not turning up to training in top condition, short cuts like this lead to short careers.”

Mr Seaby also reflected on the role of failure in spurring players or individuals on to greater achievement.

“In 2005, we lost the grand final by four points. That hurt. But the next year we had the best pre-season ever. We all turned up fit and ready to go. We were determined to improve and at the end of the season we won the 2006 grand final by one point,” he said.

“I loved footy and I was privileged to play with legitimate greats of the game but I didn’t have all my hopes and dreams wrapped up in footy. It was never going to fulfil me completely and it was always going to come to an end.

“My faith in Jesus is the most important thing in my life, as that can never be taken away.”