Troy Selwood’s sporting legacy will live on through students he mentored at Geelong Grammar
Troy Selwood shaped the next generation in his role at Geelong Grammar. Cricket future star Ollie Peake bravely opens up on Selwood’s significant impact and the students’ touching tribute to him this week.
Troy Selwood’s life was tragically cut short, but his legacy will live on through the youngsters he shaped at Geelong Grammar.
Selwood, who died on Tuesday at the age of 40, ran Geelong Grammar’s football program and assisted the sports scholars at the prestigious school.
He went above and beyond his ‘Head of Football and Sports Performance Mentor’ title and his three and a half years at the school belied his true impact.
Sadly, the former Brisbane player only got to see the start of two budding careers he fostered in Richmond No.1 pick Sam Lalor and close friend, Melbourne Renegades talent Ollie Peake.
Carlton running machine Ollie Hollands, West Coast goalsneak Noah Long – taken with the second last selection in the 2022 national draft – and recent Geelong rookie pick Xavier Ivisic were also heavily influenced by Selwood, along with a host of other students who didn’t reach the highest level.
Xavier Ivisic is such a humble, hardworking & resilient young man.
— Troy Selwood (@TroySelwood) November 27, 2024
He is an underdog, who just let his football do the talking over the last three years.
To witness him receive his AFL opportunity last week, makes my job very rewarding.
Go Xav!https://t.co/hr24z0TWoB
Peake, 18, was in Sri Lanka with the Australian Test squad as a development player when the devastating news broke and returned to Geelong promptly.
The prodigious batter will be forever grateful for Selwood’s guidance and said his willingness to care for others while he battled his own demons epitomised his selflessness.
“Personally I am still pretty shocked. I don’t think it has sunk in yet,” Peake told this masthead.
“Now sort of looking back and thinking about what was going on in his head, he’s got to be one of the most selfless men that I’ve ever met.
“He always put us before himself and I guess in the end, I wish that he felt like he could talk to us as well about that stuff.
“His influence, not only for our schools but around the whole school as well, was invaluable. I think we’re all very lucky to have had him in our lives.
“Didn’t really matter which sport you played, he treated everyone the same and would have all of our best interests at heart. And I got to be under him for three years and he had my back through and through.”
The heartbroken Geelong Grammar community also lost football physio and school parent Travis McCombe after a medical episode in Papua New Guinea in November, just hours before Lalor’s AFL dream became a reality.
But Geelong Grammar students are rallying together in the midst of unimaginable sorrow, paying tribute to Selwood on Thursday morning by taking part in the ‘run club’ tradition he forged.
This morning It was the final GGS Running Club session for 2024. Couldn’t have asked for better conditions! I love seeing new faces attend these opportunities so late in the academic year. Go Grammar! pic.twitter.com/u4ehQaUQ3M
— Troy Selwood (@TroySelwood) November 27, 2024
“All the boarders did the run club before school, which is an initiative that Troy created back when I was in Year 10,” Peake explained.
“It was originally created for the footy program and then other sports started joining in and it was one of his big passions.”
Selwood was there for the students in his care through the good times and the bad, and was fierce advocate for them.
His X page, where he celebrated the achievements of Geelong Grammar pupils, was a testament to that.
Peake recalled one example which highlighted the lengths Selwood went for his students.
“Coming into year 12, obviously with missing a bit of school for cricket, I was pretty keen on the idea to do four subjects,” Peake said.
“And my parents and I sort of put in an email saying I want to do four subjects. (Geelong Grammar) have a bit of a policy that you have to do five subjects.
“And then Troy went into bat for me and he was as invested as my parents were, if not more, to get that result.
“Eventually I ended up only having to do four subjects and it was on the back of his stern words.”
For Peake’s great mate Lalor, Selwood helped him wade through a challenging draft year marred by setbacks.
Selwood told this masthead in October that he drew on his brother Joel’s injury-hit draft year to help inspire the talented midfielder.
“Just as things were unfolding for Sam, I was like, ‘Hey mate, I want you to know as frustrating and as lonely as it feels right now, there have been boys in your situation’,” Selwood said at the time.
“Some have thrived like my younger brother did, and others went backwards and didn’t see the opportunities that were in front of them.”
Peake could see the significant impact Selwood had on Lalor.
“Sam’s injuries and stuff last year, Troy was a really calming influence for him,” Peake said.
“He sort of reminded him that he’s an amazing player, obviously he went number one in the end, but it was never sort of about that.
“It was just more about enjoying the experience he had in front of him and sort of seeing everything is a new opportunity.”
VERY GOOD EYE
It speaks volumes when the pre-eminent scout of the 21st century rates your recruiting eye.
Selwood worked as VFL & Academy manager at the Cats from 2015-16 before taking on the role of talent identification manager for five seasons under Stephen Wells.
“Troy had a very good eye for talent and understood the traits young players would require if they were to make it in the AFL,” Wells said.
“He had an amazing work ethic and developed many great relationships in the recruiting world.”
The perfect example of those qualities was his pursuit of premiership player Brad Close in 2019.
Recruiting is very much a team game, but Selwood was a big fan of the hardworking forward. While his stats didn’t jump off the page, his GPS numbers certainly did.
TGI Sport player Tim Lawrence had met with Close through one of his clients, and he was quickly signed up after a conversation with Selwood.
“I remember I met ‘Closey’ for a coffee and I rang Troy about something and he goes, ‘Timmy, I’ve got a player I want to talk to you about’,” Lawrence recalls.
“And I said, ‘I’ve just said hello to Brad Close’, and he said ‘That’s him’.”
Months later, the Cats read out the 21-year-old’s name with the 14th pick of the rookie draft and he has been a mainstay at Geelong ever since.
Coach Chris Scott said he last season he was in their 10 most important players.
“(Troy and I) kept talking. I knew at the time that they needed to convince ‘Wellsy’ and the others,” Lawrence said, who has since parted amicably with Close.
“There’s a chance they might have still got him somehow, but there’s also a very good chance that if Troy hadn’t pushed Brad’s name and pushed his cause, he might still be running around in Glenelg gear.”
Close said he is grateful for Selwood and the entire recruiting team for giving him his shot.
“Obviously he was in recruiting when I was drafted and the whole recruiting team along with him helped me get to where I am today, so couldn’t be more thankful for those boys and Troy as well,” Close said this week.
“We received some terrible news (on Tuesday). But that’s our footy club, we will all look after each other and the Selwood family. Obviously thinking about them at this time.”
WATCHING OVER
Appreciating achievements, remaining level-headed and maintaining life balance are among the valuable lessons Peake has learnt from Selwood.
He won’t forget them as his burgeoning career unfolds.
“He has given me some great advice along the journey that I still implement into everything that I am doing with cricket probably subconsciously, and even life as well,” Peake said.
“He spoke about us being good people first and worrying about sport later. I think that’s always going to be the focus and everything he has taught me will stick with me along the journey.”
There is no doubt Selwood will be watching over him and many others with pride, celebrating every little milestone in their journeys.
More Coverage
Track watch: Port bull passes big test, JHF sizzles
Rory Atkins on kick-in duty, the SSP midfield audition and Sam Powell-Pepper ticking off a major milestone in his comeback – there was plenty happening at Alberton on Friday.
Blues lock in new president after Sayers scandal
Carlton has appointed its new club president, taking over from Luke Sayers after his resignation in January. MATT FORREST has the details.