Leo Seward

A giant of the Edwardian era, Leo "Sammy" Seward was a dominant follower whose brief VFL career left a lasting impression on contemporaries. Standing at 193cm and weighing over 90kg, the Ballarat native and St Patrick’s College alumnus was eligible for the Students via his attendance at the Ballarat School of Mines. He joined University for their inaugural VFL season in 1908, immediately establishing himself as a physical force who could win his own ball. Despite his massive frame, Seward was a talented all-round athlete with surprising speed and a punishing long kick, booting 15 goals in his 15 games—an exceptional return for a ruckman of that period. He left the league after just one season, continuing his football journey in the WAFL with Perth and back in Ballarat, leaving pundits to wonder just how dominant he could have been with a sustained VFL career.