David Mundy signs with Seymour for next season in major coup for Goulburn Valley league

One of the AFL’s most respected footballers of the last decade will return to his junior club for next season in an early Christmas present for supporters. Here’s what we know.

Seymour’s favourite son will be back where his career originally began next year.

The Lions have announced former Fremantle midfielder David Mundy will come out of retirement to play at the club.

Born and bred in Seymour the 376-game AFL player played for the Lions as a junior before he moved to the Murray Bushrangers and went on to play for the Dockers.

Mundy played the most games ever for Fremantle and won a best and fairest in 2010 and was named in the All Australian team in 2016.

He returns after having a year off but played one game for Carngham Linton in the Central Highlands as part of the Carlton Draft.

Former Fremantle player David Mundy is heading back home to Seymour next year. Photo by Michael Willson/AFL Photos via Getty Images

It will be the first time he’s put on Lions colours in more than 20 years since playing in under-16 and the club is wrapped to have him back.

“It’s an amazing signing for the club and we can’t wait to see Dave back at Kings Park where it all began,” Seymour president Gerard O’Sullivan said.

“Dave is an incredibly humble person and has made it clear for a while his desire to come back to Seymour and get back to country footy.

“Having one of the most experienced footballers in the history of the game trotting round in the GVL is going to be a great boost for our club and the competition more broadly.”

Mundy is expected to play the minimum amount of games to qualify for finals if the Lions make it.

How many games he will be involved in exactly depends on the fixture and his family commitments as he is still based in Western Australia.

But Seymour is confident he’ll make a major impact on a team who is intent on bouncing back after being eliminated in straight sets from the finals last season.

“We’ve got a great young side with plenty of room to improve after a bit of a disappointing finals series last year,” O’Sullivan said.

“Mundy will slide into our midfield nicely and will no doubt be passing on some important lessons to our boys.

“We’ve got some young players who already have VFL experience and it will be huge for their development to play alongside a legend of the game.

“There’s a really strong bond in our current team and an exciting vibe around the club.

“I’d encourage everyone to get around the Lions in 2024 in what will be a huge year for us.”

Mundy’s first game as a Lion could be against Tatura in the first round of the season on April 6.