Geelong Grammar young gun Lachie Russell on his masterclass inspired by Troy Selwood just days after his tragic passing

Geelong Grammar students were rocked by the tragic loss of Troy Selwood. But an emerging talent mentored by Sam Konstas was determined to honour him. What followed was a performance for the ages.

Hours after Troy Selwood’s tragic passing last week, Geelong Grammar scholar Lachie Russell was determined to honour his mentor.

Selwood, the school’s head of football and sports performance mentor, had played a part in getting Russell to the school, with the dual sportsman making the big move down to Geelong from Sydney’s inner-west last year.

Russell, 16, had been part of the Sydney Swans’ Academy as a junior and opened the batting at Cranbrook School with his good mate, a promising talent by the name of Sam Konstas.

Now aspiring to follow in Konstas’ footsteps and wear the baggy green – representing Vic Country as a bottom-ager at the recent under-17 national champs – Russell’s father Shaun said his son wanted to make Selwood proud.

Sam Konstas and Lachie Russell opened the batting together at Cranbrook School. Picture: Supplied

Sam Konstas (left) and Lachie Russell go out to bat for Cranbrook School. Picture: Supplied

“His words to me since a day or so after (his death) was, ‘I really want this one dad, for Troy. Dad I want to do something special for Troy’,” Shaun recalled.

Geelong Grammar’s cricketers had all made the difficult decision to play against Haileybury on Friday and Saturday in the Associated Public Schools (APS) competition despite their anguish.

“I was on the phone to him and it was a tough conversation. It was more about this weekend in cricket and how I going to make this one count,” Lachie said.

“Obviously he’s given me the opportunity here, and I wanted to make sure that wherever I can this weekend was the one where I put my head down and try do whatever I can to make it count.”

He certainly did that.

The grieving Russell hit an incredible 109 off 154 deliveries, tapping his black armband and raising his bat to the heavens to commemorate Selwood when he reached his century.

Lachie Russell raises the bat to the sky for Troy Selwood after his century. Picture: Michael Nelson/Geelong Grammar

“It was a big moment. I thought about it beforehand if it was going to happen when I was on about 90,” Russell said.

“I was kind of thinking about if I did get there, what I would do, and I wanted to make it something about him and that to hold somewhere special, because it was for him.

“So that just came to me and I thought it’d be really special to do that.”

But he wasn’t done yet.

Russell almost single-handedly kept his side in the game in their defeat, claiming five of the last six wickets on day two to finish with stunning figures of 6-61 with his leg-spin.

Russell only picked it up 18 months ago on the advice of Konstas: “If you want to play for NSW, make sure you bat and bowl spin!”

But it was Selwood’s advice that was ringing in his ears during his all-round masterclass.

Troy Selwood was the school's head of football. Picture: Geelong Grammar

“I wasn’t really thinking about the sad side of it. I was trying to make it more about how I can uphold him and what he would want me to do and that’s just to keep playing, keep playing with freedom and be who I am,” Russell said.

“So yeah, I was trying to think what he would think of me when I’m playing cricket.

“Obviously a shocking loss for the school. He’s done so much for us boys as a group and as a sports scholar group.

“He was always backing me, always making me strive to perform, not only on the sporting field but at the school level and in the boarding house as well.

“So he was a great mentor for me, he made me push myself to my limits and then find the opportunities whenever and make me just play with freedom.

His father noticed a change in his son after the tragic news that rocked the football world and Geelong community last week.

“Some tragedies make a player and I know with Lachie, something happened last week. Some steely resolve,” Shaun said.

“It is absolutely devastating but it has definitely had an effect on him as a person in general. I don’t know, something’s just clicked in him and it obviously all happened on Saturday and hopefully he can make the school and Troy proud moving forward.”

KONSTAS CONNECTION

At 16, Russell has opened alongside future stars Konstas and Ollie Peake — two members of Australia’s successful U19 World Cup side.

Richmond No.1 pick Sam Lalor was alongside Peake and Russell in their APS cricket premiership last year.

Russell feels Peake and Konstas are similar but different.

Lachie Russell and Ollie Peake after Geelong Grammar's APS premiership win last year. Picture: Supplied

Richmond No.1 pick Sam Lalor (left) and Lachie Russell after Geelong Grammar's APS premiership win last year. Picture: Supplied

“They are good mates as well. They both share similar attributes of working hard and backing themselves every weekend, no matter what happens,” Russell said.

“And I feel like ‘Peakey’ is a bit different to Sammy. Sammy is more routine and focused here and there but ‘Peakey’ is just all about freedom and all of that, just being himself as a person.”

Like Selwood, the talented young pair have helped Russell back himself.

The ultra-confident Konstas sent the cricket world into a frenzy as he ramped Jasprit Bumrah for successive boundaries in his Test debut at the MCG.

“He’s talked about it as being an out-of-body experience. That first game against India he was just playing with freedom and he had his own plans and he backed himself against them and obviously it worked,” Russell said.

“That mindset of playing with freedom which he does and he just backs his ability every game, no matter what circumstance he’s in. I just wanted to kind of replicate that.

“Just play with freedom and back myself. And hopefully the result comes but if it doesn’t, back myself the next week as well.”

Konstas ramped his way to a half century. Picture: AFP

Russell has received some valuable advice from Konstas and the pair regularly check in on each other.

“I always talk to Sammy, still ring him about what he’s going through and how he’s been tracking,” Russell said.

“He’s doing unreal for what he does — obviously thought he would achieve great things, but never this so early.

“It was great for him and always talk to him here and there as a mentor as well and as a person - he is a great person, humble as.

“He’s just a great person to talk to.”

Russell has also drawn on Peake’s qualities.

“‘Peakey’ has mentored me early,” Russell said.

“’Peakey’ and I share similar things. (Selwood) tried to instil in me what Peakey has. More as a person than just a cricketer.”

Russell will never forget Selwood as he hopes to follow in the footsteps of fellow mentors Konstas and Peake.

“He will always hold a special place in my heart. Throughout my whole cricket journey, everything will be through him and will always be in the back of my mind no matter what,” Lachie said.

“He is a very inspirational man.”

Originally published as Geelong Grammar young gun Lachie Russell on his masterclass inspired by Troy Selwood just days after his tragic passing