Former West Coast players, staff plan to run HBF Run For a Reason half-marathon in honour of Adam Selwood

A group of former West Coast Eagles players and staff have pledged to finish what Adam Selwood started and complete Sunday’s HBF Run For a Reason half-marathon in his honour.

A group of former West Coast Eagles players and staff have pledged to finish what Adam Selwood started and complete Sunday’s HBF Run For a Reason half-marathon in his honour.

Selwood passed away on Saturday in Perth, aged 41.

The Eagles premiership player had planned to complete the charity run in memory of his twin, Troy, who died by suicide in February. Selwood had raised more than $21,000 for Perth-based suicide prevention charity zero2hero, but that has swelled to nearly $60,000 in the wake of his tragic passing.

Instigated by Sam Butler, a group of former Eagles players and staff, including Quinten Lynch, Bradd Dalziell, Matt Rosa, Sharrod Wellingham, Drew Banfield and long-time club physio Steve Gravina, are hoping they’ll be permitted late entry into Sunday’s sold-out half-marathon to ensure Selwood’s legacy is realised.

Adam Selwood recently died, aged just 41. Picture: Daniel Carson/AFL Media

Gravina, who spent eight years at West Coast as a physiotherapist, had been treating Selwood in the lead-up to his half-marathon attempt. He was due to visit Gravina’s clinic, Front Runner Physio, for one last tune-up this week.

Like the majority of the group, Gravina was not planning to race in Sunday’s charity run after completing a separate half-marathon last weekend.

“When the opportunity came up to finish what he started, I was keen to jump at it,” Gravina told this masthead. “Knowing what he wanted to do and continue to push an awareness of mental health in our community, I thought it would be fitting to contribute in some way.

“I’ve had the great privilege of seeing Adam in the lead-up to the HBF run when he decided to take the challenge on and raise money in honour of Troy. I’ve helped manage him over the last few weeks and obviously supported his fundraising goal.

“It’s been tough. I started at the footy club in 2014 as he retired and went on to his development coaching role, and then across to the women’s program. We connected as work colleagues. We were a similar age and had kids at a similar time. My wife became mates with Fi, and our kids mucked around together when they were younger.

“We’re hoping we’ll get confirmation and be able to run the half-marathon, but we just want to be part of the event. It’s a physical challenge but one we all want to have a crack at.”

Zero2hero aims to “provide programs that educate, engage and empower young people to support and maintain their own mental health and prevent suicide in the community.” Chief executive Ashlee Harrison has vowed to work with Selwood’s family and West Coast to ensure he leaves a lasting legacy.

“We are thinking of something that would be more of a legacy for Adam, but it’s very early days for that, and I’d want his family to be fully in support and help with the design of that,” Harrison told this masthead. “It could be anything from an Adam Selwood scholarship that supports a young footballer or a group of young men, or it could support a project specifically related to men’s mental health.

“I’ve had more phone calls from West Coast players in the last day than I’ve had in the last 10 years. It will be something that we potentially do in partnership with the West Coast Eagles and SEDA.”

Harrison said plans are underway to position marquees, counsellors and psychologists at the finish line, a post-run function and t-shirts to support the cause.

“We know it’s going to be very emotional for a lot of people,” she said. “We’ve been inundated by people wanting to do it for Adam.

“The fundraising is incredible, but we’re not focused on that right now. We’re focused on supporting the people around Adam, and others have been pretty rocked by this.”

Both Adam (L) and Troy Selwood (R) have passed away in 2025.

Harrison established the zero2hero in 2009 after losing her stepfather to suicide. The 2016 Young West Australian of the Year said Selwood was one of its earliest supporters.

“I got a phone call from him after Troy’s passing, and he just really needed to do something,” she said. “He really believed this was a crucial part of his healing journey.

“He couldn’t sit idle because he wasn’t that kind of person. He chose something that he loved doing with his brother, which is running.

“He wanted to do it for himself, his brother, but also to stop any family from going through the same thing.

“He was definitely absolutely devastated to have lost his brother. I know he was rocked by that, but he was rocked at a far greater level than I appreciated or could comprehend at the time.”

While there have been calls for the AFL to introduce a dedicated mental health round, Harrison is a firm believer in preventive action.

“I’ve been inspired by the level of conversation and how much that has shifted in the past 10-15 years,” she said. “What’s not happening is an increase in men taking steps to protect their mental health.

“A mental health round is great, but I don’t think we need more awareness without action. It’s going to require more than a mental health round. It can’t be tokenistic.”

Originally published as Former West Coast players, staff plan to run HBF Run For a Reason half-marathon in honour of Adam Selwood