Walkerville football club helped fallen Crow Paul Seedsman get back into the game: Andrew Capel

A suburban SA footy club is proving just the tonic for former Crows star and concussion victim Paul Seedsman to rediscover his love for the game, Andrew Capel writes.

It is the local footy club that has helped former Crows star and concussion victim Paul Seedsman get back on his feet and rediscover his love for the game.

Adelaide Footy League Division 4 club Walkerville has wrapped its arms around the 33-year-old in what has proven to be one of South Australian footy’s feel-good stories.

Forced into playing retirement two years ago because of lingering concussion symptoms stemming from a bad head knock during pre-season training with Adelaide at the end of 2021, which resulted in him never playing again, Seedsman admitted he was so disillusioned that he wondered whether he would even watch another game of footy.

But a chance meeting with Walkerville sponsorship director Derek Gregory at the Crows best and fairest count in 2023 opened the door for him to emotionally return to the game in what has been a big win for both parties.

Seedsman was persuaded to join the club as an assistant coach, attending training sessions once a week and games on weekends, and revealed being involved in grassroots footy had “scratched an itch’’ and helped with his recovery.

Paul Seedsman (right) in his role as an assistant coach at Walkerville. Picture: Walkerville FC

“After I’d retired at the Crows I bumped into Derek at our best and fairest and he said he wanted to talk to me about what I’m doing next year,’’ Seedsman recalled.

“I said I can’t play, I can’t really do anything, but I agreed to talk, the club called me on the Monday and asked my thoughts about getting involved there.

“I sat down with their president, Ryan Curry, and coach, Ryan Madden, and they were great people.

“I said health-wise I was pretty limited with what I could do, but they said there was no pressure with coming to games or training if I didn’t feel right, so I jumped onboard and I’ve loved my time there, they are such a good footy club.

“Even though I only get to one training session a week, I really appreciate the people at Walkerville for how understanding they are with all that.’’

Seedsman, a long-kicking wingman who played 132 AFL games for Collingwood (49 from 2011-15) and Adelaide (83 from 2016-23) in a 13-year career, was medically retired by an independent concussion panel in 2023 after missing two years of footy.

He is still experiencing daily concussion symptoms.

“Every day I’m symptomatic, it’s just on the severity and longevity of it,” Seedsman told ABC Sport.

“I get headaches, nausea, dizziness. Some mornings I wake up and I can’t get out of bed and I’m sort of gone for the whole day. Other days it gradually just increases throughout the day.

“I haven’t been able to work for three years and there was a time in December when I was bedridden for two-to-three weeks.’’

Paul Seedsman during his playing days with the Crows. Picture: James Elsby/AFL Photos via Getty Images

But Seedsman believes things would have been a lot worse for him mentally if he hadn’t been encouraged to return to football by Walkerville.

“Footy had been taken away from me overnight,’’ he said of the head knock that ended his AFL career.

“I’d rocked up to day one of pre-season as fit as I’d ever been, was in a great place, and then, with one incident, I never trained (properly) again, never got past day two of the concussion protocols.

“The rug was quickly pulled beneath my feet and to lose it all overnight was really difficult.

“My family wanted me to start getting back around footy because it had meant so much to me and, to get back at a smaller level, in local footy, has scratched that itch to a degree - just the feeling of being in and around the rooms. Footy clubs are just great places.’’

Curry said Seedsman had become a very popular figure at Walkerville, whose A-grade side is unbeaten this season, having started 6-0.

“He’s done plenty for our footy club and is really engaged with our players, particularly the younger guys,’’ Curry said.

“They really look up to him and, early on, we had a few juniors who had progressed into senior ranks and after training one night he went for a counter meal with three or four of them, just to chew the fat and have a chat about playing senior footy.

“There are a lot of things like that he does in the background, things you wouldn’t see on a day-to-day basis, because he’s fully invested and loves the club and everyone involved in it.

Paul Seedsman walks off Adelaide Oval after retiring as a Crow in 2023. Picture: Sarah Reed/AFL Photos via Getty Images

Paul Seedsman (right) with former Collingwood teammate Heath Shaw at Walkerville Football Club on Saturday. Picture: Walkerville FC

“I couldn’t speak more highly of him as a person and what he’s done for our footy club. Everyone here loves him.

“We said to him from day one that we were happy for this (coaching) arrangement to be a stepping stone for him if he gets better and wants to go on to bigger things in footy.

“He’s already made a lasting impact here, so that would be a win-win for everyone.’’

Seedsman persuaded great mate and former Collingwood teammate Heath Shaw, a 2010 Magpies premiership player, to play a one-off game for Walkerville’s B-grade side last Saturday, where the 39-year-old helped himself to 29 disposals, as part of a major fundraising day for the club.

Seedsman said the fact that his concussion issues had prematurely ended his playing career had put coaching “more on the agenda for me’’.

“I did a coaching course a couple of years ago and now I’ve got to do the next level, which I’ll maybe one day do if my health turns around,’’ he said.

“There are elements I love about it (coaching) and elements I don’t, but I love mentoring people and helping them get better.

“To do it at a high level again, I’m not sure, but there is an interest there.’’

NUMBERS GAME

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Josh Rachele goals for the Crows in their 66-point win against West Coast - an equal-career high.

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Nasiah Wanganeen-Milera disposals for St Kilda against Gold Coast - a career high.

QUOTES OF THE WEEK

“Chock full of talent, aren’t they, the AFL nepo baby.’’ - St Kilda coach Ross Lyon on Gold Coast.

“It’s a little bit disrespectful, I think. What St Kilda probably should do is make sure they focus on their own backyard instead of trying to bring everyone else down. They had 13,000 people here today.’’ - Gold Coast coach Damien Hardwick on Ross Lyon’s comments after the Suns’ 19-point win at Marvel Stadium on Sunday.

Originally published as Walkerville football club helped fallen Crow Paul Seedsman get back into the game: Andrew Capel