Touching and emotional moments from Troy Selwood’s funeral as family and friends say goodbye

In front of more than 1000 mourners — including some of the AFL’s biggest players — one of the Selwood brothers recalled how their brother Troy left a mark on them forever.

Three brothers in arms, braced in unity for their saddest day, gulped, paused and tried to laugh as they farewelled Troy Selwood at Kardinia Park on Friday.

Adam, who lost his identical twin when Selwood died suddenly last week, said writing a goodbye had been the hardest task of his life.

Brother Joel said he no longer had the brother to rewrite and improve his speeches before he delivered them.

“The truth is, today isn’t something I imagined having to do,” third brother Scott Selwood told a crowd of thousands.

“I’m not entirely confident I’m going to get through it all, but I can hear Troy in my ear, saying what he always says when I face challenges in life: ‘You’ve got this Scootie, you’re gonna be great’.”

Scott Selwood and Joel Selwood look on during Troy Selwood's funeral service in Geelong.

The Selwood brothers, AFL footballers all, shared, with rawness, their brother and mate who was always there. Each of them stopped to sip water or just take a breather from their grim task. Each of them projected a numbness ordinarily linked to the shock loss of a child or young person.

Joel Selwood, Adam Selwood and Scott Selwood embrace during Troy Selwood's funeral Service.

More than 1000 mourners were turning up more than an hour before the service began. Players old and new, such as Luke Power and Nick Daicos, multiplied in the crowd. Bear hugs and handshakes were exchanged.

A video tribute is played during Troy Selwood's funeral service.

Dozens, if not hundreds, of students from Geelong Grammar, where Selwood worked, stood out in their light blue uniform.

A guard of honour is formed as the hearse leaves the arena during Troy Selwood's farewell.

Selwood’s mother Maree arrived, clutching a single red rose. Close mate Brendan Fevola chewed gum, his shoulders hunched.

MC Anthony Hudson suggested sunglasses and tissues for getting through the service. Both were applied, within minutes, when Selwood’s mother began a poem: “I forgot to read the fine print when I signed up to be your mum …”

Troy Selwood's mother Maree holding a single red rose. Picture: Alan Barber

Brendan and Alex Fevola. at GMHBA Stadium for Troy Selwood's funeral. Picture: Alan Barber

Troy Selwood, who was 40, was the oldest brother. He and his siblings sharpened their competitive spirit on the tennis court of their Bendigo home.

It didn’t matter if it was cricket, footy, tennis or basketball. There was generally blood spilt by the end, and often a rather shouty loser.

Joel Selwood delivers his eulogy during Troy Selwood's funeral service.

Adam said his twin was “my mirror, my fiercest competitor, my greatest ally, and the one person that I knew that knew what I was always thinking”.

Selwood would call for a “quick” chat, which would go 90 minutes. He was a leader, from day one, setting an example in discipline that combined AFL aspiration with top notch year 12 marks. He kept journals on wellbeing and personal growth.

A general view during Troy Selwood's funeral at GMHBA Stadium.

Selwood, a doting father of two, loved Brisbane, where he played 75 games with the Lions. He picked up yet another nickname there when he came home drunk, set dim sims to steam, fell asleep, then woke to a building-wide evacuation. Thereon, the neighbours called him Dim Sim Boy.

Troy Selwood while playing for Geelong against Port Melbourne.

The principal of Geelong Grammar, Rebecca Cody, remembered an “understated, gentle soul” when Selwood was interviewed for the role of head of football and sports performance.

He brought “childlike energy” and an “infectious smile” to the job, as well as generosity. It didn’t matter if a student played in the firsts or the 8Bs.

Patrick Dangerfield and Bryce Selwood, Troy's father at the service. Picture: Alan Barber

Mark Blicavs and Jimmy Bartel at GMHBA Stadium for Troy Selwood's funeral. Picture: Alan Barber

“Whether it be 7am or 7pm, if you needed Troy, he was there...” she said.

“None of us had Troy in our lives for long enough.”

There was a darkness in Selwood’s life that conflicted with the joy he inspired in others.

Joel Selwood spoke of his brother’s fight. It was plain on the field, as a tagger who staked his name on persistence, endurance and discipline.

Captain Troy Selwood and David Wojcinski after a game between Port Melbourne and Geelong at Etihad Stadium.

Another kind of battle played out off the field.

“He was dealt some pretty tough cards over his lifetime,” Joel Selwood said.

Many Selwood combated with courage.

“But sadly, there were others, no matter how hard he tried, he could never fully control,” he said. “And he did try. He tried so hard... In the end he simply couldn’t lift his arms to throw another punch back.”

Originally published as Touching and emotional moments from Troy Selwood’s funeral as family and friends say goodbye