Joel Selwood slams Clayton Oliver’s classy sportsmanship

Former Geelong captain Joel Selwood has torn into a Melbourne star over an act of sportsmanship that was widely applauded.

Former Geelong captain Joel Selwood (left) and Melbourne and Carlton players Clayton Oliver and Patrick Cripps

While Melbourne star Clayton Oliver’s unseen act of sportsmanship warmed the hearts of the football world this week, Geelong great Joel Selwood wasn’t on board.

Oliver went toe-to-toe with Carlton’s Patrick Cripps for most of the night, locking horns with one of the league’s other premier inside midfielders.

Watch every match of The 2023 Toyota AFL Finals Series before the Grand Final Live & Ad-Break Free During Play on Kayo Sports. Join now and start streaming instantly >

Oliver had an opportunity to tip the scales back in his favour with his side leading by three points late in the fourth quarter.

There was a stoppage inside the Demons’ forward 50 and as Oliver and Cripps took their positions around the ruckmen for the boundary throw-in, the Demons onballer noticed blood trickling from Cripps’ nose.

All he had to do was point the blood out to the field umpire and Cripps likely would have been forced from the field under the blood rule, which forces players from the field while actively bleeding to prevent the transmission of bloodborne disease.

Clayton Oliver has been saluted for this unseen moment in the fourth quarter of the Blues-Demons semi-final. Picture: Channel 7

Instead of ratting on his opponent, he let him know so Cripps could quickly wipe it off before it was seen.

While fans and pundits alike were full of praise, Selwood was less so.

“It was interesting towards the end of that game, a passage of play that Cripps was involved in,” Selwood said on Seven’s Talking Finals on Wednesday night.

“We have a look here … Melbourne were so brutal early in the game (but) here we see Oliver letting Cripps know that his nose was bleeding (and Cripps) just wipes the blood away.

“Melbourne three points up. That was a chance to get Patty Cripps off the ground. And when you are off the ground at that time of the game, it is hard to get back on. Take him out of the game.”

Selwood said his Cats last year went after opposition star players with the same ruthlessness.

“We went after a few, to be honest. We planned for it all week,” Selwood said about Geelong’s aggressive approach heading into the preliminary final against Brisbane.

“The one that comes to mind was last year, the prelim against Brisbane. Lachie Neale was a player that we thought was a fire-starter for Brisbane.

“It is cold aggression, to be honest. There is nothing that we want to do out of the rules that gives him a free kick but when he gets the ball, you want to make sure that he’s felt pressure. And you can do it in a number of different ways.”

Selwood thought Oliver should have gone for the jugular. Picture: Alan Barber

Footy fans, however, loved it.

“Props to Clayton Oliver,” wrote a Carlton fan on Twitter.

“Most players would have alerted the umpire to the blood coming from Cripps’ nose. He tells Cripps to wipe it. And they go at it again.”

“That’s awesome from Clarry. Respect,” wrote another.

“Wow, wasn’t expecting to see that. Good on him,” added a third.

“Got to respect him for that,” wrote a fourth.

Cripps was incredibly emotional after the Blues found the winning goal and progressed to preliminary final weekend, where they’ll play Brisbane.

Although footy fans were later left fuming at a move by Channel 7, that was blasted by Eddie McGuire as one of the most infuriating aspects of the night.