Adam Selwood given emotional tributes as West Coast Eagles score shock win

Football’s ‘saddest day’ ended in some unexpected joy for West Coast fans as, amid tears over the tragic loss of former star Adam Selwood, his old team managed an emotion-charged victory.

Eagles players before the match on Sunday. Picture: Getty Images

Football’s “saddest day” ended in some unexpected joy for West Coast Eagles fans as, amid tears over the tragic loss of former star Adam Selwood, his old team managed an emotion-charged breakthrough win.

The death on Saturday of the 41-year-old Selwood, just months after his twin brother Troy took his own life, sent the football world into mourning. His sudden passing was felt particularly keenly at the Eagles, where Selwood spent 11 years as a player and many more as a coach and administrator.

The Eagles had been mired in a season of misery, having lost ten straight matches amid the worst slump in the club’s history, but Selwood’s death put those on-field woes into perspective.

Tens of thousands of fans observed a minute’s silence in Selwood’s memory before the Eagles’ Sunday match against St Kilda.

The last active Eagles player to have played alongside Selwood, Jamie Cripps, looked tearful during the emotion-charged pre-game tribute. When he snapped a goal early in the match, he slapped the black arm band worn in Selwood’s honour.

It sparked the Eagles’ best performance of the season, with the club going on to seal its first win of the season.

2006 Grand Final. West Coast Eagles v Sydney Swans. MCG. Adam Selwood.

Selwood played 187 games for the Eagles, including the 2006 premiership win.

He was one of four brothers to play football at the highest level. Adam, Troy, Joel and Scott Selwood played 786 games between them, an AFL siblings record.

He had remained highly involved with West Coast since his retirement, working with the club in a variety of roles including as development coach and the head of the club’s women’s program.

Speaking shortly before Sunday afternoon’s match, West Coast coach Andrew McQualter said the previous 24 hours had been one of the saddest days that football had ever had.

“We have a lot of our players who were influenced and impacted by Adam over his life,” he said.

“We just spoke about playing with his spirit today – the way that Adam was as a person. Hopefully we can do him proud.”

Adam Selwood delivers his eulogy as Scott and Joel Selwood look on during Troy Selwood’s funeral service at Geelong in February. Picture: Supplied

Adam Simpson, who was the senior coach at the Eagles while Selwood was working for the club, said the whole AFL community was in mourning.

“I had the honour of knowing Adam for a number of years post-football [when Selwood was] a development coach and working with the community and the women’s program,” Mr Simpson said. “He was a great clubman and a loyal husband and father. To go through this for anyone is really difficult. My heart just breaks, it really does.”

Copypic/Borrow of twins Adam (L) in an old Fitzroy jersey and Troy Selwood in a Collingwood jersey when they were 5yrs. Troy who now plays for the Bris Lions will play against Adam who plays for the West Coast Eagles in their first AFL game against each other on 15/06/2003. sport children

WA premier Roger Cook said he was saddened to hear of Selwood’s passing.

“Not only was he a much-loved football player, but he was also a cherished husband, father, son, brother, and friend,” Mr Cook said.

“My thoughts are with the Selwood family, his friends, and all who knew and loved him.”

In a heartbreaking twist, Selwood had been preparing for a charity fun run in his brother’s memory. Selwood was raising money for suicide prevention charity zero2hero.

14/07/2005. Copy picture of footballers Adam (left) and Troy Selwood.

In a post to the fundraising page a month ago, Selwood thanked those who had donated and said Troy would have been proud “of the impact we are making together”.

“Thank you also to the friends who have been joining me on training runs. My fitness is strong, my weight is back to playing days, and I clocked just under 15kms this morning. I feel so fortunate to be surrounded by such wonderful people as I prepare for the event in late May.”

The amount raised on Selwood’s fundraising page had surged to almost $33,000 since the news of his death, swamping his initial goal of $10,000.

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