Geelong captain Joel Selwood has played more games than any other player since his debut
Joel Selwood running off the ground under the blood rule is a regular sight but the Geelong warrior has played more games than any other player since his debut in 2007.
Geelong
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He is footy’s “Mr Indestructible”.
Since his debut in 2007, Geelong warrior Joel Selwood has driven the midfield to finals appearances in 11 of his 12 seasons, carving a reputation as one of the game’s toughest players and best leaders.
The raging bull has won more centre clearances than any player in that time and, perhaps even more remarkably, has combinedbrute physicality and bravery with incredible durability.
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Ironically, the man once famously dubbed “the league leader of bleeders” after copping another nasty cut, has spent more time on the field than any other.
Selwood has played at least 20 games every year.
And there’s no secret elixir, just a ridiculous commitment to the tedious work of recovery.
According to Geelong people, few Cats’ players spend more time in the rehab rooms, and in particular in the pool and on the pilates reformer, than the skipper.
But as Geelong prepare to ring the positional and tactical changes to revamp its premiership prospects in 2019, supporters wonder what’s next for the fearless skipper?
Certainly, the midfield Holy Trinity of Gary Ablett, Patrick Dangerfield and Selwood has been broken up after Ablett revealed this week he was planning to play permanently forward.
Instead, Geelong plans to inject more youth into its engine room, including Quinton Narkle, Lachie Forgarty, Brandan Parfittand, of course, Tim Kelly.
And as good as Selwood has been in the guts over his brilliant 272-game career, the club wants the triple-premiership player to grow in other roles as it embarks on a new era.
The sun is not setting on his midfield career, but rather there is a considered plan to try and extend it.
Coaches know it will be more important than ever to win the centre clearances this year, with the new 6-6-6 rule likely to result in a sharp increase in goals originating from centre bounces.
There will be more space, more one-on-one contests forward of the ball, and a strong emphasis on getting first hands on theball.
That is Selwood’s bread and butter.
But after spending 91 per cent of games in the midfield last year, can coach Chris Scott reasonably expect his inspirational leader to carry such a huge onball workload past his 31st birthday in May?
Probably not.
There’s going to be times this year when Selwood starts on the wing or flank as the ball is bounced.
Dangerfield will be the permanent onball fixture after playing large chunks forward in 2018.
Scott last year floated the idea last year of playing Selwood more in defence, just like Western Bulldogs’ great Matthew Boyd finished his career, and won an All-Australian guernsey, in 2016.
“There’s a little bit of a pointer to what we might think about with Joel towards the end of his career,” Scott said.
Indeed, it will be a season of considerable change at the Cattery.
And Selwood is open to standing outside the centre square when the ball goes up.
Just don’t expect him to stay out there for too long, if he’s watching the opposition continue to boot it their way.
SOURCE: CHAMPION DATA
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