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Is Joel Selwood the toughest player in the AFL?

SOMETIMES he thinks “you idiot”, but Scott Selwood can’t help but admire the courage of brother Joel, who was again left bloodied, but not beaten against the Crows last night.

Glenn McFarlane and Chris Vernuccio
2 min read
June 3, 2017 - 2:18PM
Joel Selwood was left with a huge gash after copping a heavy knock early in last night’s game. Picture: Michael Klein
Joel Selwood was left with a huge gash after copping a heavy knock early in last night’s game. Picture: Michael Klein

AS a teammate, Scott Selwood can’t help but be inspired by his brother Joel’s relentless attack on the ball.

As a brother, he often shakes his head at the sheer recklessness of when and where his sibling puts himself during a match.

The Selwoods combined last night to help bring about Adelaide’s demise, but it was older brother Joel who added to his already long catalogue of head wounds that was one of the biggest talking points.

HAVE YOUR SAY: Is Joel Selwood the toughest AFL player ever? Nominate your toughest player in the comments below

With blood spilling from a nasty cut on his head, there were concerns his night could be over with concussion but in typical Selwood fashion, he jumped straight back up and was pushing the trainer away.

He eventually left the field to get his head stitched up, but was back on the field for the start of the second quarter.

Joel Selwood was left with a huge gash after copping a heavy knock early in last night’s game. Picture: Michael Klein
Joel Selwood was left with a huge gash after copping a heavy knock early in last night’s game. Picture: Michael Klein

“I admire it,” Scott said of Joel’s courage in the contest.

“It just inspires you, then you see in the last 10 seconds (of last night’s game), he tried to go for a ball that he shouldn’t have gone for, and you think, ‘you idiot’.

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“It is just an unbelievable trait that he has. He doesn’t think about it, he just does it. It is just so inspirational sometimes.”

Hawthorn champion Luke Hodge — himself among the toughest players in the competition — lauded Selwood’s act of courage, as did many footy fans on social media.

Joel’s partner, Brit Davis, said pre-game on Triple M that she feared some of the situations that he puts himself in at times, and Scott admitted his parents were also nervous about his brother’s capacity to go for the hard ball without thinking anything of the consequences.

“There is no doubt Mum and Dad do (worry about him) and so does everyone watching,” Scott said.

“But he knows what he is doing.”

“It is his greatest strength and we always encourage players to play to their strengths, so that’s what he does.”

‘Nah, I’m right mate, more possessions to gather’. Selwood in the hands of a trainer. Picture: Getty Images
‘Nah, I’m right mate, more possessions to gather’. Selwood in the hands of a trainer. Picture: Getty Images

He joked that Joel doesn’t need any more permanent reminders: “He has got enough scars and he is ugly enough as it is ... he doesn’t need any more.”

Scott, who goes almost as hard at the ball, combined with his brother for the Cats’ first goal against the Crows, with a perfectly-timed pass to Joel.

But he said it had more to do with the jumper that he was passing to than any sibling connection.

Selwood all smiles after a win and a few stitches. Picture: Getty Images
Selwood all smiles after a win and a few stitches. Picture: Getty Images

“He was just the right person in the right spot and it was good to see him finishing it,” he said.

Scott, 27, and Joel, 29, have now played together on eight occasions - for seven wins, with the only loss coming in last year’s preliminary final against Sydney.

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After racking up 11 touches in the first quarter, Selwood showed no ill-effects from the collision as he finished with a game-high 35 disposals and 21 contested possessions and possibly three Brownlow Medal votes.

It begs the question, is Selwood the toughest in the game?

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Original URL: https://www.heraldsun.com.au/sport/afl/teams/geelong/is-joel-selwood-the-toughest-player-in-the-afl/news-story/c121cc2c9a36c5269bcdbe00bee29f76