AFL champ’s heartbreaking five words after brother’s death
AFL champ Joel Selwood has gone public with a devastating message about his brother, who died in tragic circumstances this week.
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AFL champ Joel Selwood’s five word post after the death of his brother Troy is breaking hearts around the footy world.
The famous Selwood family and the AFL community was rocked during a week of tragedy when Troy’s body was found at a Geelong home on Tuesday.
The former Geelong VFL captain had two children, Tom and Sadie.
He died at the age of 40 after a career of 75 senior AFL games and the history-making scenes of all four brothers — Troy, Joel, Scott and his twin Adam.
The family has been offered love and support from across the football world and Joel shared his first message since the tragedy on Saturday.
Alongside peace and love emojis, Selwood posted: “Rest away brother, love you”.
He also shared a series of tear-jerking photos of his brothers together.
The post was flooded with emotional messages from across the Australian sporting landscape.
West Coast Eagles star Tim Kelly, rising star Harley Reid, Aussie NBA star Dyson Daniels, Channel 7 presenter Abbey Holmes, Richmond great Brett Deledio, Geelong star Jeremy Cameron, Aussie tennis icon Dylan Alcott, Carlton great Anthony Koutoufides and Essendon legend Matthew Lloyd all responded with classy messages.
The family is now preparing to hold Troy’s funeral service.
Mum Maree has shared that the service will take place on February 14 at the home of the Geelong Cats — GMHBA Stadium.
His post came after AFL great Brendan Fevola earlier delivered an emotional tribute to the footballer he previously came up against.
“Yesterday was a bit of a tough day — and I apologise for this morning, I’ve been a little bit off, I haven’t been myself — because I had a really close friend pass away,” Fevola said on Fox FM’s Fifi, Fev & Nick.
“Troy is a ripper. I was going through a bit of a tough time when I was up in Brisbane, and he was sort of the bloke that was there for me, which meant a lot to me.
“It’s just a real shock. Obviously in the footy world, we can have this persona that we’re tough and we can handle anything. But we are human and we don’t really speak about our feelings often — and that’s not just in the footy world, but as men in general.
“Obviously he was going through a bit of a tough time and it ended yesterday. He’s got two young kids ... it’s just really upsetting and shattering that you just think: ‘What could you have done?’ But you can’t do anything. It’s so hard.
“He was only 40. You’ll hear stories about him and no one will say a bad word about him. He was just one of the really good ones.
“It’s just sad.”
Fevola also posted on Instagram: “Thanks for being there for me when I was going through a tuff (sic) time.”
“Best house mate I’ve ever had. Love you mate.”
Triple premiership forward Jonathan Brown, who was at the Lions for all eight seasons Selwood was on the club’s list for, said Selwood “had a beautiful soul about him”.
“He had a great smile, and was a very empathetic bloke as well. So that’s why teammates loved him, and why everyone in the footy club loved him, and everyone involved that he met loved him,” Brown told Nova 100.
“Really tough day. I knew he’d been going through some struggles, unfortunately, but it never quite prepares you for the shock of a mouthful like that.”
Troy Selwood retired from his playing career in 2013 before moving into coaching.
He stepped away from his role on Geelong’s coaching staff in 2021.
He was still working in a role as head of football for the prestigious Victorian Grammar school.
Selwood was selected by the Brisbane Lions with pick No. 19 in the 2002 AFL Draft.
He played 75 games for the club before he was de-listed in 2010.
The family first shared the tragic news with a message released via a statement from the AFL.
The AFL released a statement on behalf of the family on Tuesday afternoon.
“We are heartbroken by the loss of our son, brother and father, Troy this morning. We will miss Troy more than words can express,” the family statement read.
“Troy was a much loved and loving member of our family. Over the course of his life, Troy bought joy and light to all who knew him. He was a loving son of Maree and Bryce, a supportive and caring brother to Adam, Joel and Scott, and a doting father of beautiful children Tom and Sadie.”
It was a tragic week in the football world with Essendon VFL senior coach Dale Tapping also dying at the age of 59 following a battle with cancer.
West Coast premiership player Adam Hunter also died at the age of 43 this week.
Originally published as AFL champ’s heartbreaking five words after brother’s death
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