AFL 2022: Geelong star Patrick Dangerfield lavishes praise on ‘irreplaceable’ Joel Selwood after his retirement

Patrick Dangerfield and the rest of the Cats are still coming to terms with premiership captain Joel Selwood’s retirement but he doesn’t think anyone can fill his void.

Geelong champion Patrick Dangerfield is finally a premiership player. Picture: Michael Klein

Geelong champion Patrick Dangerfield believes retired premiership captain Joel Selwood is “irreplaceable” as he continues to bask in the club’s flag glory.

Dangerfield was on hand to watch Selwood’s emotional retirement announcement on Wednesday but had known for days he had played his final match with the 355-gamer.

Selwood went out on a high with a strong grand final performance and fourth flag, to go with six All-Australian selections, three Cats best and fairests and four AFLPA most courageous player awards.

“We had a little quiet moment a couple of days ago – it was quite emotional,” Dangerfield told KIIS 101.1.

“You sort of see the writing on the wall with how emotional he was on grand final day, so you are just sort of waiting for it. But it still doesn’t really prepare you for it.

Patrick Dangerfield and Joel Selwood will both go down as Geelong greats. Picture: Getty Images

“Personally, he has been such an instrumental figure and an incredible leader. As an organisation, we have been so fortunate to have Joel a part of it and captain it.

“He truly is irreplaceable as a person because he is one of a kind.”

Geelong’s victory delivered Dangerfield a long-awaited first premiership, something he has long craved to complement his long list of individual accolades, including winning the 2016 Brownlow Medal.

“There is nothing like it. The best part of it is that you have this incredible story to share with so many people,” he said.

“That’s where team sport blows everything out of the water, because you can share it together.

“To play the way that we did and execute on the biggest stage – a place where we have failed before, in prelims and all those sorts of things – it’s really gratifying.”

Patrick Dangerfield and his wife, Mardi, will welcome their third child this off-season. Picture: Getty Images

Dangerfield’s wife, Mardi, is “heavily” pregnant with their third child but he plans to fit in a quick trip to the United States in the coming months to complete a prestigious course at Harvard Business School.

The course, which the 32-year-old is doing alongside Cats’ head of football Simon Lloyd, is in negotiation and competitive decision-making.

“We’re waiting on when the new bubs comes, so it’s going to be a relatively quiet off-season,” he said.

“But I’ve got a course to do at Harvard for a couple of weeks, so I’m heading over there.”

Dangerfield is also auctioning off his grand final jersey to raise funds for the My Room Children’s Cancer Charity, after being inspired by Kane Cornes’ 725km run from Adelaide to Melbourne for the organisation.

Bidding has reached almost $20,000 and closes at 7pm AEST on Friday.

Originally published as AFL 2022: Geelong star Patrick Dangerfield lavishes praise on ‘irreplaceable’ Joel Selwood after his retirement