Sean Tighe: Former VFL star turns to Brazilian jiu-jitsu to help save his life post football

Sean Tighe hit rock bottom. Then in the depths of the toughest time of his life, the former VFL star was challenged to take up jiu jitsu. PAUL AMY finds out how the gruelling sport has changed — and saved — Tighe.

It’s 33C outside but far hotter on the training mats inside the mixed martial arts centre.

Sweat pours off Sean Tighe as he grapples with a teammate.

When he sits down for a short break, it forms a pool on the plastic seat and at his feet.

His shirt clings to his fit 107kg and 197cm frame like food wrapping.

Brazilian jiu-jitsu at Rise in Altona North is a long way from state-league football at Etihad Stadium at Docklands.

Ten years ago, Tighe, 33, took to calling himself “The Etihad Specialist’’ after his key role in Williamstown’s VFL grand final victory over Box Hill Hawks.

He kicked 1.3, sprayed another on the full and was probably best-afield in the premiership celebrations. He had also been prominent in Foxtel Cup matches at the ground now known as Marvel Stadium.

Sean Tighe celebrates a goal for Williamstown at Docklands — the ‘Etihad specialist’

The grand final turned out to be Tighe’s last game in the VFL.

He left Willy in circumstances that he says now reflect badly on him. He came to regret his decision. He says he lost structure in his life and for a time he was “out of control’’.

There was a lot of drinking and benders. No one could tell him what to do and he shut down anyone who tried.

“It was heartbreaking for the whole family,’’ Tighe says. “It got to the stage where I was blind before I was going off to play footy. I really went to rock-bottom. I had this mentality of me-against-them, even though people were legitimately trying to help me.’’

He can remember phoning his Williamstown coach, Andy Collins, a few times when he was drunk.

“I didn’t say anything bad, but it was just stupid,” he says.

“I hesitated to see him for five years, because I was so embarrassed by my actions. I went to Craig Byron’s funeral last year and I was petrified about seeing Andy. I hadn’t had a drink for 14 months at that time.’’

Sean Tighe reels in possession for Williamstown. Picture: Chris Eastman

Tighe launches Werribee forward.

Tighe credits jiu-jitsu with helping pull his life back on track.

He started doing it two years ago, encouraged by his Williamstown premiership teammate Michael Gibbons, the godfather of one of his two children.

Gibbons told Tighe he would shout him a night at the Rockpool restaurant if he completed an introductory course.

Tighe got through it – but he says he’s still waiting for Gibbons to open his wallet.

Tighe has since had about 20 amateur fights. Next Friday he’ll have his first professional bout, in combat jiu-jitsu and in a cage.

He says it has been a humbling experience to get to this point of his career.

“When you come in to the first year, you’re no good,’’ he says.

“I was decent at a good level of footy. When you come here, that means nothing. You basically start everything again. It makes or break you straight away. You get smashed. You either get addicted to it or you give up pretty quickly. I got addicted to it. I need it.

“I’d always had an interest in martial arts but, with footy, it’s hard to do anything else. I started here while I was still playing local footy, but this took over as my number one passion.’’

Tighe was a prominent under-age footballer, winning the Western Jets’ 2009 best and fairest in the TAC Cup. He had stints with Werribee and in the WAFL, and joined Williamstown as an important signing ahead of the 2014 season.

He could play two positions – key forward and ruck – and at Willy he performed both roles admirably.

Sean Tighe (second from left) ahead of his first professional fight.

Former Williamstown football manager Chris Dixon says Tighe was an “important cog’’ in the 2014-15 teams, a trusty target in attack and worthy ruck relief for big Nick Meese.

Two of his best performances were in the 2015 preliminary final and then the grand final, when he booted a goal early in the third quarter to quell a Box Hill Hawks rally.

“It got everyone going, that goal and the big celebration,’’ Dixon says. “It was the ignition for us to go and stamp our authority on the game.’’

“The Etihad Specialist’’ was born.

“I always tell people I didn’t pick the name, it picked me,’’ Tighe says. “After we won the flag I was on the piss for a few days in a row and I came up with the nickname and I’ve gone with it ever since. That’s my best memory from footy, that grand final, by a country mile. I can still remember the whole game.’’

Such a privilege to have my name on a Williamstown fc locker as a premiership player pic.twitter.com/sETjsQhwsg

— Sean tighe (@tighe_sean) October 1, 2015

I can still hear all 57 Williamstown fans chanting ‘ethihad specialist’ https://t.co/jc8320tHFU

— Sean tighe (@tighe_sean) June 5, 2020

But by the time he left Willy, he says, he had not accomplished as much as he would have liked.

“Definitely underachieved but still did well,’’ he says.

“It took me a long time to grow up away from footy. I was always known as a larrikin and stuff like that and it was all good at the time.

“Not just a football decision, but my worst life decision was leaving the VFL, because of that structure. I’ve mended a lot of them but I burned a lot of bridges, not because I did anything in particular, I just handled it like a me-against-the-world situation. It was never the case. And it took me a long time to honestly realise I was the problem.’’

Tighe’s father died in 2014. He says he never properly dealt with it.

When he left the VFL and headed for local ranks, “I was just drinking, partying, out of control’’.

Sean Tighe prepares for his first professional fight.

“I always blamed it on that (his father’s death) but that was just an easy excuse to get away with the behaviour,’’ he says.

“I think two things made me grow up. When I had kids, my mentality changed, and starting jiu-jitsu helped make me what I see as a good person now. I don’t blame anything on anyone else. I worry about what’s in my control.’’

A weekend away with Gibbons gave him the push he needed to enter mixed martial arts. He had kept saying he would take it up, but never got around to it. The Gibbons offer of a dinner at Rockpool prompted him to enrol in classes.

“If I pulled out, I would have had to take him,’’ Tighe says.

He was in a beginners’ class twice a week for 14 weeks.

“If you’ve never done it, it’s almost the hardest thing you’ll have to learn,’’ Tighe says. “I came down with one mate. He quit after about six months. I thought it would make me quit. Unfortunately they’re stuck with me now.’’

Sean Tighe after playing in a Werribee loss.

His first amateur fight was a chastening experience. Tighe had been training for six months and he was confident of a strong showing.

“I turned up thinking I was going to win a UFC title!’’ he says.

His opponent virtually rendered him immobile.

“I was dominated. I couldn’t move. It was nearly the worst day of my life. If I didn’t have a mate in the car with me I would have cried on the way home,’’ Tighe says.

But he persisted and he improved, as a ground fighter and, he says, as a person.

“It’s brought me discipline and purpose and a new lease on life. It’s taught me not everything is easy but you can make yourself better.’’

Gibbons and Mitch Banner, who also figured in Williamstown’s 2015 flag, are among Tighe’s best friends.

They are chuffed to see him succeeding in jiu-jitsu.

“But they’ve asked me not to speak about it any more,’’ Tighe says. “They reckon I never shut up about it.’’

Originally published as Sean Tighe: Former VFL star turns to Brazilian jiu-jitsu to help save his life post football