By Jon Pierik
The mental health charity that Adam Selwood embraced has offered to work with the former AFL player’s family to ensure the legacy he wanted to have will be realised.
Selwood, 41, a West Coast premiership player, died suddenly on Saturday.
Adam last month spoke of his intention to complete a half-marathon in Perth next Sunday in honour of his twin Troy, who died by suicide in February. Adam planned to run for Perth-based charity zero2hero as part of the HBF Run For A Reason, which 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”.
The football world is in mourning after the death of Adam Selwood, just months after his twin brother, Troy, also died suddenly.Credit: 9News Perth
He had raised more than $47,000 – well beyond his initial goal of $10,000.
Zero2hero chief executive Ashlee Harrison said on Monday the charity was shattered by Selwood’s death, and plans were afoot to support his family and wider community, and to honour Adam at Sunday’s run.
“I have been speaking to him a lot over the past month about the run and why was doing it. He knew it was early days, but he definitely knew it was part of his healing journey,” Harrison said.
“It’s definitely rocked us. We invited him to one of our big corporate lunches a week ago, and he was like: ‘I don’t feel ready for that yet ... thanks very much. I am going to get more involved. I don’t know how yet. But I need this to be a part of my legacy’.
“I knew he was struggling. I am well-trained in this space now. I didn’t think this is where we would be at today, that’s for sure.”
AFL great Chris Judd referenced Adam Selwood’s running capacity in a touching post to Instagram on Monday, describing “Sellars”, his fellow 2006 West Coast premiership player, as “the perfect teammate”.
“He was a great runner, but it was purely a result of grit, determination and work ... every step was a testament to his determination, which was without peer. He was the perfect teammate, you knew you were getting his everything each week on the field while being completely focused on the team,” Judd wrote.
“While off the field his personality blended a hard edge with kindness and compassion, a kindness he gave to everyone else but not himself.”
Harrison, the 2016 Young West Australian of the Year, established the charity in 2009 after losing her step-father to suicide.
Selwood had written on his donation page: “This cause is deeply personal to me, and this run marks an important step in my own healing journey, as well as an ongoing commitment to raising awareness about mental health and suicide prevention across the country”.
Harrison said the charity’s immediate focus was on supporting the Selwoods, and she planned to discuss with the family how best to use the money Adam had already raised and how this could be put to a long-term legacy. Selwood first aligned himself with the charity more than 15 years ago because it aided children and teenagers.
Chris Judd and Adam Selwood in their time as teammates at West Coast.Credit: Getty Images
“We are figuring out a bigger legacy for that. We are mindful the public are very supportive … We are thinking of the bigger picture, what’s going to honour him, what is going to honour the Selwoods, maybe a link to football,” said Harrison, whose brother Brodie was once on the Eagles’ playing list.
Asked how she would remember Selwood, Harrison replied: “Absolute gentleman, is how I would describe Adam. Incredibly generous with his time … a man of integrity.”
The deaths of the Selwood twins have reverberated across the football industry, and sparked a fresh conversation about mental health both in the AFL and broader communities.
The Eagles players arm in arm before their match against St Kilda in Perth.Credit: AFL Photos
AFL great James Hird called on the sport to provide greater help for past players.
Hird has previously written about spending time in a psychiatric facility after reaching crisis point with his mental health in 2017.
“The support past players get after the retire, when they get to 40, when they get to 50, I don’t think is there,” Hird told Nine’s Footy Furnace.
“I think a lot of players get through their careers, they get out, and they are fine, but there are lot that aren’t. I really believe more needs to be done by the AFL, the AFLPA, the players, the clubs to help players that haven’t quite filled the void that AFL football had for them.”
The annual “Spud’s Game”, a match played in honour of St Kilda great Danny Frawley where funds are raised for mental health, was held in round nine between the Saints and the Blues at the MCG.
There are calls, led by former North Melbourne premiership player and mental health advocate Wayne Schwass, for an entire theme round dedicated to raising awareness of mental illness.
Adam Selwood’s premiership teammate Ashley Hansen, now a senior assistant coach with Carlton, added his voice for change on Monday.
“I think as the awareness and probably the severity of the problem is growing, it probably needs to be brought to the forefront, and certainly a large proportion of the football audience this is starting to affect,” Hansen said on ABC radio.
“Obviously, it was only last week that our club was involved in Spud’s game. We probably need to grow that to a wider audience than just the St Kilda, Carlton football clubs, to have these conversations as to what people have available to them, the support.”
Former Fitzroy and Adelaide coach Robert Shaw also wants greater awareness of mental health. Shaw and Hird have been involved with the FifthQTR foundation, established by Carlton premiership greats Ken Sheldon and Ken Hunter, which aids past players battling mental health issues.
“This is not a criticism of the AFLPA because I do genuinely believe the AFLPA do a great job across a lot of different parts, having had the benefit of that myself. But more needs to be done,” Hird said.
“More and more players who had full-time careers who didn’t have anything else in their life, any trade, any education, have got to a point in life where self-worth, identity, is not there.”
The AFL says it understands the reasons for a mental health round, and has pointed to its role in supporting Spud’s Game. The AFL also runs a detailed mental health program for players and staff through its pathway programs and into the senior league.
The AFL Players Association is supportive of the proposal for a mental health round, and also provides support and options for players in need of help.
One of four Selwood brothers to play AFL, Adam played 187 games for West Coast, including the 2006 premiership.
Hansen said Selwood would be greatly missed.
“Yeah, it’s certainly a time of reflection, and the ones that are missed are probably the ones that give so much to others. And that summed Adam up,” Hansen said.
If you or someone you know is in need of support contact Lifeline on 13 11 14 or Beyond Blue on 1300 22 4636. In the event of an emergency dial triple zero (000). Support is also available from MensLine on 1300 78 99 78.