Joel Selwood: Difference between revisions

| birth_place = [[Bendigo, Victoria|Bendigo]], [[Victoria (state)|Victoria]], [[Australia]]

'''Joel Anthony Selwood''' (born 26 May 1988) is a former [[Australian rules football]]er who played for the [[Geelong Football Club]] in the [[Australian Football League]] (AFL). He is a [[AFL premiership medallion|quadruplefour-time premiership player]] ([[2022 AFL Grand Final|including one time as captain]]), a six-time [[All-Australian]], and a three-time captain of the All-Australian team. Selwood captained Geelong between 2012 and 2022, is the club's [[VFL/AFL games records#Club games record holders|games record holder]], has won the [[Carji Greeves Medal]] three times as their best and fairest player, and holds the record for longest-serving captain in the AFL.

Selwood's transition to the AFL drew positive comments throughout the footballing community;{{sfn|Slattery|2007|p=81}} former [[Brisbane Lions|Brisbane]] coach and [[Australian Football Hall of Fame#Legends|Australian Football Legend]] [[Leigh Matthews]] noted how "from [his] first game ... he looked like he had played 200 of them".<ref>{{cite web |title=Lions' Leuenberger earns rave reviews |url=https://www.smh.com.au/sport/lions-leuenberger-earns-rave-reviews-20070814-gdqum8.html |publisher=Sydney Morning Herald |access-date=23 July 2022 | date = 13 August 2007 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20181104125845/https://www.smh.com.au/sport/lions-leuenberger-earns-rave-reviews-20070814-gdqum8.html | archive-date = 4 November 2018}}</ref> Geelong coach [[Mark Thompson (footballer)|Mark Thompson]] labelled the 18-year-old Selwood the best youngster to have come under his tutelage during his time at the club.<ref name="risingstar">{{cite web |last1=Gullan |first1=Scott |title=Rising Star award down to two |url=https://www.perthnow.com.au/news/nsw/rising-star-award-down-to-two-ng-7b489e6634e86e7cf116a962b9904ccf |website=Perth Now |date=13 July 2007 |publisher=The Herald Sun |access-date=23 July 2022}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last1=Witham |first1=Jennifer |title=Selwood reminiscent of Bartel |url=http://www.afl.com.au/Season2007/News/NewsArticle/tabid/208/Default.aspx?newsId=50593 |publisher=AFL |access-date=23 July 2022 | date = 5 September 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121022132822/http://www.afl.com.au/Season2007/News/NewsArticle/tabid/208/Default.aspx?newsId=50593 |archive-date=22 October 2012}}</ref> Geelong captain [[Tom Harley]] noted about the 18-year-old Selwood that "he's very confident, without a hint of arrogance".<ref name="harley">{{cite web |last1=Vaughan |first1=Roger |title=Selwood surging with Cats |url=https://www.afl.com.au/news/535317/selwood-surging-with-cats |publisher=AFL |access-date=24 July 2022 |date=18 September 2008}}</ref> From the beginning, Selwood showed an ability to influence games; in just his fourth appearance, he led his older and more experienced teammates with a game of 25&nbsp;disposals and nine tackles. This achievement, described as inspiring,{{sfn|Gullan|2008|p=70}} earned him an [[AFL Rising Star Award]] nomination. The Geelong coaching staff had a highlights package made of this performance, to screen to the rest of the team during the match review later that week.{{sfn|Gullan|2008|p=79}} Selwood's impact on the game as a first-year player prompted numerous comparisons to [[Chris Judd]], who a few years earlier had been lauded for his first-year success as an 18-year-old.<ref name="judd">{{cite web |last1=Niall |first1=Jake |title=Joel Selwood follows Judd |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070919123333/http://www.realfooty.com.au/articles/2007/08/12/1186857346978.html |website=Real Footy |publisher=The Age |access-date=24 July 2022 |url=http://www.realfooty.com.au/articles/2007/08/12/1186857346978.html |archive-date=19 September 2007 |date=13 August 2007}}</ref>

Selwood finished the season ranked first among all first-year players in several major statistical categories:<ref name="stats" /> total possessions (405), disposals per game (19.3), kicks (216), handpasses (189), marks (109), tackles (94)—the most ever by any first-year AFL player<ref name="tackle">[http://stats.afl.com.au/public/home.shtml "AFL Statistics"] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061106185917/http://stats.afl.com.au/public/home.shtml |date=6 November 2006 }}. [[Australian Football League|AFL]]. Accessed 13 May 2008.</ref>—and tackles per game (4.5). His 23&nbsp;score assists during the season also ranked him within the top ten in the league.<ref name="stats" /> Selwood added to his list of first-year honours at season's end with the Geelong Football Club Best First-Year Player Award, along with a top-20 placing in the [[Carji Greeves Medal|Club Champion award]].<ref name="player_profile">[http://www.geelongcats.com.au/player-profile/joel-selwood "Player Profile – Official AFL website of the Geelong Football Club"]{{Dead link|date=November 2024 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}. [[Australian Football League|AFL]]. Retrieved 4 November 2007</ref> He also received several media end-of-year sporting awards.<ref>{{cite web |title=Young guns keep firing |url=http://www.bendigoadvertiser.com.au/news/local/sport/general/young-guns-keep-firing/730368.aspx |publisher=Bendigo Advertiser |access-date=24 July 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120306060525/http://www.bendigoadvertiser.com.au/news/local/sport/general/young-guns-keep-firing/730368.aspx |archive-date=6 March 2012 |date=13 October 2007}}</ref>

During the Round 17 Grand Final rematch against Hawthorn, Selwood achieved career highs of 42&nbsp;disposals, 10&nbsp;marks, and 11&nbsp;tackles.<ref name="stats">[http://www.footywire.com/afl/footy/pp-geelong-cats--joel-selwood "Joel Selwood statistics"], footywire.com. Retrieved 4 August 2009</ref> Geelong midfielder [[Cameron Ling]] described Selwood's performance as: "Absolutely amazing... He just single-handedly lifted the whole group with his intensity around the ball. It's surprising that he's only in his third year. He's something pretty special".<ref>Zander, J, [http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2009/07/25/2636317.htm?site=local "Cats claw over top of Hawks"], ''ABC'', 25 July 2009. Retrieved 5 August 2009</ref> Selwood helped Geelong compile an 18–4 win–loss record during the season to become the first team in league history to produce three consecutive home-and-away campaigns with 18 or more wins.<ref>Pace, R, [https://web.archive.org/web/20120223233957/http://www.geelongcats.com.au/geelongnews/newsarticle/tabid/3933/newsid/83622/default.aspx "Cats on Song"], Australian Football League & Bigpond, 27 August 2009. Archived from the [http://www.geelongcats.com.au/geelongnews/newsarticle/tabid/3933/newsid/83622/default.aspx original] on 23 February 2012. Retrieved 7 September 2009.</ref> Geelong qualified for the [[2009 AFL Finals Series|finals series]] in second position on the ladder before reaching the preliminary final for the third consecutive season. Selwood matched a career-high disposal tally for finals games with 29&nbsp;disposals and 9&nbsp;marks during the Cats' 73-point thrashing of Collingwood, leading the club to their third successive Grand Final appearance.<ref>Rucci, M, [http://www.heraldsun.com.au/afl/more-news/cats-blitz-pies-by-73-points/story-e6frf9jf-1225777029871 "Cats blitz Pies by 73 points"], ''The Herald Sun'', 19 September 2009. [https://wwwarchive.webcitation.orgtoday/20121231021020/6EcRl2K7Y?url=http://www.heraldsun.com.au/afl/more-news/cats-blitz-pies-by-73-points/story-e6frf9jf-1225777029871 Archived] from the original on 22 February 2013. Retrieved 19 September 2009.</ref> During the [[2009 AFL Grand Final|Grand Final]] against [[St Kilda Football Club|St Kilda]], Selwood addressed the playing group with a "stirring speech"<ref>[http://www.bendigoadvertiser.com.au/news/local/news/general/grand-day-for-bendigos-joel/1634329.aspx?storypage=0 "Grand day for Bendigo's Joel"], ''The Bendigo Advertiser'', 28 September 2009. Retrieved 1 October 2009</ref> as Geelong entered the half-time break trailing by 6&nbsp;points. Teammate [[Andrew Mackie]] lauded Selwood as "a born leader"<ref name="speech">Silkstone, D, "Cats who got the dream", ''The Age'', 28 September 2009.</ref> and credited the team's second-half turnaround to Selwood's reminder to "go back to basics and focus upon tackling".<ref name = "speech" /> Selwood finished the game with 24&nbsp;disposals—including a team-high 12&nbsp;contested possessions and equal game-high 16&nbsp;handpasses—4&nbsp;marks, 6&nbsp;clearances, a team-high 10&nbsp;first possessions, 3&nbsp;tackles, and 1&nbsp;goal to help the Cats record a 12-point win and secure their second premiership in three seasons.<ref>Davis, G, [http://www.news.com.au/adelaidenow/story/0,22606,26133671-5016212,00.html "Winning words: 'Don't panic' says Geelong coach Mark Thompson"], ''The Herald Sun'', 27 September 2009. Retrieved 28 September 2009</ref>

Despite a [[hamstring]] injury during the 2014 pre-season, Selwood made a recovery to lead Geelong to an unbeaten record over the first five rounds of the 2014 home-and-away period. He averaged over 27 disposals, 6 tackles, and a goal during the winning streak until the club suffered their first loss for the season against Port Adelaide in round six. Geelong were defeated a further three times over the following two months, coinciding with Selwood's lower averages of 19 disposals and 4 tackles a game. Despite his overall inconsistent performances, Selwood was praised for his ability to make key contributions during games; he kicked the winning goal against Carlton in Round 12 and scored 3 goals against St Kilda in Round 13 from only 11 disposals.<ref name="persist">Wade, Nick, [http://www.geelongadvertiser.com.au/sport/afl/selwood-always-finds-a-way/story-fnjuhrxq-1226905548967 "Selwood always finds a way"], ''The Geelong Advertiser'', 5 May 2014. Retrieved 9 September 2014</ref><ref name = "persist2">Matthews, Bruce, [http://www.heraldsun.com.au/sport/afl/carlton-coach-mick-malthouse-livid-over-lastminute-umpiring-calls-in-fivepoint-loss-to-geelong-at-etihad-stadium/story-fni5f5nx-1226946460456?nk=7a375d3c494825e2f362eff07db5b583 "Carlton Coach Mick Malthouse livid over last minute umpiring calls in five-point loss to Geelong at Etihad Stadium"], ''The Herald Sun'', 7 June 2014. Retrieved 9 September 2014</ref> Coach Chris Scott lauded him as having "a mark of a great player"<ref name = "persist"/> who could "find a way to change things ... and play his best when the game was demanding it"<ref name = "persist"/> even after "struggling at times within games and when it seemingly isn’t going [his] way".<ref name = "persist"/> Carlton coach [[Mick Malthouse]] similarly praised Selwood as "an outstanding player ... he wills his side to win"<ref name = "persist2"/> and the player he would pick to have in his own team if given the choice.<ref name = "persist2"/> Selwood and the Cats finished the season with a 17–5 win–loss record to qualify in third position for the finals series.<ref>{{Cite web|date=15 September 2014|title=Mastermind season review: Geelong Cats|url=https://www.theroar.com.au/2014/09/16/after-putting-their-double-chance-to-waste-and-exiting-september-in-straight-sets-one-must-think-about-whether-the-great-geelong-dynasty-could-be-finally-about-to-end-yet-again-the-cats-defied-the/|access-date=14 November 2020|website=The Roar|language=en-US}}</ref> In the Qualifying Final against Hawthorn, Selwood gathered 31 disposals, 16 contested possessions, 9 clearances, 6 tackles, and 3 goals but was unable to prevent a 36-point defeat.<ref>{{cite web|title=Hawks' late surge sees off persistent Cats|url=http://www.afl.com.au/match-centre/2014/24/haw-v-geel|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140902090641/http://www.afl.com.au/match-centre/2014/24/haw-v-geel|url-status=dead|archive-date=2 September 2014|last=McNicol|first=Adam|publisher=AFL|date=5 September 2014|accessdate=13 September 2014}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Hawthorn beats Geelong by 36 points to reach AFL preliminary finals|url=http://www.abc.net.au/news/2014-09-05/hawthorn-beats-geelong-to-reach-preliminary-finals/5724284|last=AAP|publisher=[[ABC Sports|ABC Grandstand]]|date=5 September 2014|accessdate=13 September 2014}}</ref> Needing to defeat North Melbourne in the Semi-Final to remain in the finals, Selwood accumulated 24 disposals, a game-high 16 contested possessions, a game-high 11 clearances, and 8 tackles. However, he was again unable to prevent a 6-point defeat, and Geelong were eliminated from the finals series. The loss was the first time that Selwood had experienced consecutive defeats in a finals series with Geelong.<ref>{{cite web|title=Kangaroos pip Cats by six points to enter preliminary final|url=http://www.theage.com.au/afl/afl-match-report/kangaroos-pip-cats-by-six-points-to-enter-preliminary-final-20140912-10gch0.html|publisher=[[The Age]]|last=Gleeson|first=Michael|date=12 September 2014|accessdate=13 September 2014}}{{Dead link|date=November 2024 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=GEE v NM: Finals Week 2: Match Stats|url=http://www.theage.com.au/match-centre/afl/match-20140142501.html|publisher=[[The Age]]|last=|first=|date=13 September 2014|accessdate=13 September 2014}}{{Dead link|date=November 2024 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref>

In the [[2015 AFL season]], Selwood produced several strong performances early in the season despite the team's shaky start. Against Gold Coast in Round 3, Selwood led Geelong to a 9-point win with 38&nbsp;disposals—23 of which were contested possessions—8&nbsp;clearances, 6&nbsp;tackles, 5&nbsp;inside-50s, and a goal. His performance prompted his teammate [[Mitch Duncan]] to declare him as "an extraordinary player"<ref name="burden">{{cite web |last1=Connolly |first1=Rohan |title=Geelong skipper Joel Selwood carrying too much of the burden |url=https://www.theage.com.au/sport/afl/geelong-skipper-joel-selwood-carrying-too-much-of-the-burden-20150420-1mp3ue.html |website=The Age |access-date=19 February 2022 | date = 21 April 2015}}</ref> whilst his coach Scott suggested that "his teammates should consider it a privilege to be playing alongside him".<ref name="carey">{{cite web |last1=Carey |first1=Wayne |title=Match-winners are a rare breed - they never stop believing |url=http://www.theage.com.au/afl/afl-news/matchwinners-are-a-rare-breed--they-never-stop-believing-20150507-ggwes1.html |website=The Age |access-date=19 February 2022 | date = 7 May 2015}}</ref> In Round 19 against Sydney, Selwood made his 200th appearance for the club and led Geelong to victory with 35&nbsp;disposals, 6&nbsp;marks, and 6&nbsp;inside-50s. His milestone appearance at 27 years of age made him the youngest player in club history to play 200 games.<ref name="milestonegame">{{cite web |last1=Reynolds |first1=Ryan |title=Geelong Cats: Humble hero Joel Selwood set to play game 200 |url=http://www.geelongadvertiser.com.au/sport/afl/geelong-cats-humble-hero-joel-selwood-set-to-play-game-200/story-fnjuhrxq-1227475545577 |website=The Geelong Advertiser |access-date=19 February 2022 | date = 8 August 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150810081731/http://www.geelongadvertiser.com.au/sport/afl/geelong-cats-humble-hero-joel-selwood-set-to-play-game-200/story-fnjuhrxq-1227475545577 |archive-date=10 August 2015}}</ref> He also became the fourth-fastest player in VFL/AFL history to play 200 games after achieving the milestone in 8 years and 129 days.<ref>{{cite web |last1=West |first1=Luke |title=Joel Selwood purrs to game 200 for Geelong |url=https://www.bendigoadvertiser.com.au/story/3264842/selwood-purrs-to-game-200/ |website=Bendigo Advertiser |access-date=19 February 2022 | date = 7 August 2015}}</ref> With the departure of several experienced teammates over the previous three seasons, Selwood was responsible for leading an inexperienced midfield throughout the season. Often matched up against opposition [[Australian rules football positions#Taggers|taggers]] and receiving minimal support, Selwood struggled with consistency.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Pierik |first1=Jon |title=Geelong Cats great says teammates need to help Joel Selwood |url=http://www.theage.com.au/afl/afl-news/geelong-cats-great-says-teammates-need-to-help-joel-selwood-20150525-gh93a0.html |website=The Age |access-date=19 February 2022 | date = 25 May 2015}}</ref> Despite leading the team in several statistical categories and averaging career highs in clearances, Selwood recorded his lowest disposal average since his first year as well as his lowest disposal efficiency, lowest uncontested possession average, and highest clanger average of his career.<ref name = stats/> His inconsistent performances coincided with Geelong consequently finishing the year in tenth place with an 11–1–10 win–draw–loss record, thus missing out on qualifying for the finals series for the first and (what ended up being) only time in Selwood's career. Selwood also failed to be nominated into the All-Australian squad or final team for the first time since his debut season. However, he still finished third for the AFLPA Most Courageous Player Award.<ref>{{cite web |title=Fyfe goes back-to-back as the AFLPA's Most Valuable Player |url=https://www.afl.com.au/news/200442/fyfe-goes-back-to-back-as-the-aflpas-most-valuable-player |website=AFL |publisher=Australian Associated Press |access-date=25 January 2022 | date = 15 September 2015}}</ref>

Selwood is married to Brit Davis, a model and special education teacher. They became a couple in 2015, were engaged in 2018, and married in 2020.<ref>{{cite web |title=Geelong Cats star Joel Selwood ties the knot with long-time love Brit Davis |url=https://www.perthnow.com.au/entertainment/celebrity/geelong-cats-star-joel-selwood-ties-the-knot-with-long-time-love-brit-davis-ng-b881437607z |website=Perth Now |access-date=17 February 2022 | date = 19 January 2020}}</ref> SelwoodThey ishave thefour thirdchildren.<ref>{{Cite ofweb four|date=2024-10-11 children|title=AFL bornlegend towelcomes Brycesecond child after fertility fight |url=https://7news.com.au/sport/afl/geelong-premiership-legend-joel-selwood-and-wife-brit-welcome-second-child-after-fertility-fight-c-16360394 Maree|access-date=2024-10-14 Selwood.|website=7NEWS He|language=en}}</ref> Selwood has three brothers, all having been listed with AFL clubs: two older brothers, twins [[Adam Selwood|Adam]] (187 games for [[West Coast Eagles|West Coast]]) and [[Troy Selwood|Troy]] (75 games for the Brisbane Lions and a previous Geelong VFL captain), and a younger brother, [[Scott Selwood|Scott]] (who played 135 games for West Coast, and 34 games for Geelong with Joel). Maree was awarded the 2005 [[AFL Players Association]] Mother of the Year Award for her contribution to football through each of her sons.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Murnane |first1=Jason | title =

At the end of 2023, Selwood was announced as the namesake for [[Kardinia Park (stadium)|Kardinia Park]]’s new grandstand.<ref>http://www.kardiniapark.vic.gov.au%2Fnews%2Fnew-grandstand-named-in-honour-of-joel-selwood%2F&usg=AOvVaw2tGMydGOKW-nhjF1x0Z3bl&opi=89978449 {{bare URL inline|date=March 2024}}</ref> Selwood was also appointed to the AFL’s football operations department for 2024.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.afl.com.au/news/1072873/afl-football-operations-laura-kane-joel-selwood-erin-phillips-josh-mahoney-dan-richardson | title=Modern greats join AFL as part of footy ops reshuffle | date=21 December 2023 }}</ref>

*Most finals played in VFL/AFL history (40)<ref name=":1">{{Cite web |title=AFL Tables - Miscellaneous Player Records |url=https://afltables.com/afl/stats/alltime/misc_players.html |access-date=2024-01-26 |website=afltables.com}}</ref>

*Equal-most finals series played (15), shared with [[Dick Lee (Australian footballer)|Dick Lee]] and [[Michael Tuck]]<ref name=":1" />

*Fourth-most wins in VFL/AFL history (259 wins; 72.96% win rate)<ref name=":1" />