Wellman has enjoyed great success at Essendon including All Australian selection in 1998 and 2001, runner-up in 1998 best and fairest and 2000 premiership. “There is no doubt that trade worked well for all parties,” assistant coach Robert Shaw said. “Sean Wellman has been an excellent player for this football club – a leader both on and off the field. That was something this club quickly recognised when they made him a vice-captain after only three years at the club.”
Since coming to the club in 1996, Wellman has been an excellent team-man and has been one of the keys to the Bombers' solid defence. On many occasions Wellman does a lot of work that goes unnoticed and isn’t necessarily recorded on the stats sheet. He is one of the team’s most courageous players and on many occasion Essendon supporters have seen him backing into a pack to help his teammate cut off that lead.
“Sean has been a wonderful acquisition from the first moment he came to the Essendon Football Club. He has been vice captain for the past three seasons and is a great leader on and off the field. Losing Damien Hardwick and Dean Wallis out of the backline was a huge loss and Sean became the anchorman in the back half. He has the capacity to play anywhere, which is a huge bonus for the team,” Bomber coach Kevin Sheedy said.
PLAYING HONOURS: 2nd best and fairest 1998; All Australian 1998, 2001; International Rules Series 1998; AFL Rising Star nominee 1994, premiership side 2000; pre-season premiership side 2000.
BROWNLOW MEDAL: career votes 29
PREVIOUS AFL CLUB: Adelaide (1994-1995: 24 games, 9 goals).
