Victorian Premier Cricket: Essendon digs in over contracted James Seymour, Australian Cricketers’ Association called in
Former Victorian squad member James Seymour has gone to the Australian Cricketers’ Association as he attempts to gain a clearance out of Essendon amid a bitter and long-running dispute.
The Australian Cricketers’ Association has been called in to try to resolve a bitter and long-running dispute between former Victorian player James Seymour and his Premier club Essendon.
Four weeks out from the season, Seymour’s future at the club and in the Victorian Premier Cricket competition he has dominated for a decade remains up in the air.
The 32-year-old has a year to run on a contract with the Bombers but wants to play for St Kilda.
Essendon has indicated it will not release him until it receives financial compensation.
Seymour and the club have been at loggerheads since the end of 2023-24.
He was stripped of the captaincy after a turbulent season for Essendon in which former international Asanka Gurusinha resigned as head coach ahead of Round 1, three players were sacked over their conduct at a club function and the First XI, routinely a finals contender, tumbled to 17th on the ladder.
The turmoil continued into the off-season, with Seymour, state quickie Cameron McClure, fast-rising batter Farzan Chowna and young leg-spinner Bailey Toseland all leaving the club.
McClure has joined Prahran, Chowna signed with Melbourne and Toseland is at Footscray after earlier committing to Prahran.
Seymour was also linked with Melbourne but ultimately chose St Kilda as his desired destination.
But he has yet to be cleared, with the Bombers adamant they would need to receive financial compensation to rip up his contract and transfer him.
An increasingly frustrated Seymour has sought the advice of the ACA and St Kilda has raised the issue with Cricket Victoria.
Bombers president Simon Tobin told CODE Sports: “James has been a tremendous player for the Essendon Cricket Club for a long time.
“He’s currently contracted to play with us for the coming season. We hope and expect he will fulfil those obligations. Should he wish to go elsewhere it’s up to him or his preferred club to make contact with us.’’
Seymour joined Essendon in 2011-12, crossed to Casey South Melbourne in 2014-15 and returned to the Bombers in 2017-18.
He has scored prolifically and stylishly for the Dons, hitting 13 centuries and 33 half-centuries from 147 First XI matches.
The Bendigo product held a state contract for the 2021-22 season and has played five Sheffield Shield and five one-day matches for the Vics, the last of which came less than a year ago.
He also had stints with the Melbourne Renegades and Melbourne Stars, playing 14 matches in total.
The high point of his state career came with a Shield century at the MCG against NSW in November, 2021, against an attack featuring Nathan Lyon, Sean Abbott and Trent Copeland.
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