West Coast Eagles pay tribute to 2006 premiership hero Adam Selwood
On an emotional day for the Eagles that began with remembering 2006 flag hero Adam Selwood, West Coast has its first win of 2025, in a fitting tribute to the premiership player’s legacy.
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The spirit of Adam Selwood has propelled West Coast to its first win of the season against St Kilda, the club paying an emotional tribute to its premiership hero.
Selwood passed away on Saturday in Perth, aged 41. It comes just three months after the loss of twin brother Troy.
Just like Selwood, the Eagles were relentless, team-orientated and physical in their 28-point win against the Saints.
The football world has been in mourning after the news of his tragic passing broke around 10am local time and nowhere was that more evident than at Optus Stadium on Sunday as two clubs and 42,860 fans paused to remember Selwood’s life and career.
"I know it's great to win a game of footy, but..."
— Fox Footy (@FOXFOOTY) May 18, 2025
Absolutely beautiful words from Oscar Allen, speaking honestly about his own battles and paying tribute to Adam Selwood 💙💛
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Jamie Cripps kicks a brilliant goal, and pays tribute to the late Adam Selwood
— Fox Footy (@FOXFOOTY) May 18, 2025
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West Coast co-captain Oscar Allen spoke candidly about the importance of seeking help after he took time away from the club earlier this season following his meeting with Hawthorn coach Sam Mitchell.
“Mental health is such a massive thing in society at the moment,” Allen told Fox Footy. “I’ve struggled with (my) own mental battles this year.
“I’ve been so fortunate to have such a great support crew around me.
“I just urge anyone out there who is struggling with anything – please reach out. Helplines, friends reach out to each other because we’re heartbroken.”
Fresh off securing his first win as senior coach, Andrew McQualter said it’s been an “incredibly challenging time” for the football club.
“It’s been one of the most emotional periods of my life,” McQualter said. “I want to pay my respects to the Selwood family and all our thoughts are with them at this sad time.
“Adam impacted so many people that still work at our football club today. I thought the way our players represented the football club today we are incredibly proud of in challenging circumstances.
“When we got here today, we just asked people to play in the right spirit and put their emotions into being a great teammate like Adam was.”
Friends of Adam Selwood believe the grief of brother Troy’s death had an effect on his mental health as he battled to find meaning after his brother’s loss.
Those friends and confidantes were shocked by the news of his death across the weekend.
His closest friends had long been aware that like Troy, he too had suffered some mental health concerns in recent years.
But they were rocked by the timing of his death so close to brother Troy’s passing.
Selwood had attempted to pay tribute to his brother with a charity run next weekend for charity Zero2hero as part of the HBF Run For A Reason. In the wake of his passing, Selwood’s campaign has been flooded with more than $14,000 of donations from the general public.
Pre-game, West Coast players, including Selwood’s former teammate Jamie Cripps, were visibly emotional as the Eagles held a minute’s silence. Donning black armbands, the players stood arm in arm as a photo of the 187-game Eagle was projected on the big screen accompanied by the caption ‘Vale Adam Selwood.’
Cripps poignantly slapped his black armband in after kicking a goal in the first quarter. Jake Waterman also pointed to the sky after kicking the opening goal of the game.
“I wasn’t planning on doing it but I guess it means something if you do,” Waterman told this masthead post-game of his moving celebration. “You’ve just got to let yourself feel.
“There’s definitely been some tears over the last 24 hours or so trying to prepare for this game.
“It makes this win mean so much more than just a game of footy.”
Eerily, West Coast’s quarter time score of 4.2 (26) is the exact same tally the Eagles kicked in the first term of the 2006 grand final of which Selwood played a key part with 26 touches.
The league said on Sunday it was open to any initiatives that helped spark the conversation about mental health as AFL chief executive Andrew Dillon urged those in football to check in on their friends and colleagues.
The AFLPA is also open to a discussion about a mental health round which would shine a greater light on mental health advocacy.
Players can access an AFL mental health wellbeing team of 37 people employed to support talent pathways, respond to mental health teams and focus on root causes of mental health problems.
In the last five years the league has directed every club to employ a club psychologist.
A video tribute also played at half-time, celebrating some of Selwood’s finest moments as a footballer and his career as a development coach and head of AFLW, tasked with founding the club’s women’s team. It was met with a heartfelt applause.
Originally published as West Coast Eagles pay tribute to 2006 premiership hero Adam Selwood
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