AFL Geelong Cats Joel Selwood

He unveiled he designed the decision to simply call time on his vocation about 6 months just before the grand final, and states Saturday’s victory did not affect the conclusion.

Geelong captain announces retirement

“I could go likely at 85 for each cent subsequent yr, and every person could appear following me, but I experienced to be all in. I just couldn’t do that,” Selwood mentioned.

“I could not even tell a pair of my ideal mates right up until grand final day. I could not tell my teammates, I couldn’t allow them engage in on emotion.

“It’s been unbelievable – I’ve had wonderful guidance the total way together.

“The journey has been fantastic.”

The 34-yr-previous won 4 premierships and performed 355 game titles.

Selwood was select No.7 in the 2006 draft, and was a member of Geelong’s 2007, 2009, 2011 and 2022 premiership sides.

Touching Cats instant in the course of operate out

He also retains the AFL’s record for most games as captain, possessing led the Cats for 226 matches.

Cats mentor Chris Scott could not praise his retiring captain ample.

“When you consider all the things into consideration, he is the greatest footy player I’ve ever viewed,” Scott explained.

“The greatest heading out on major, I cannot consider of a superior way for Joel to complete.”

The mentor appeared emotional when talking about Selwood the man or woman, fairly than the participant.

“(He) will be irreplaceable. But what Joel has completed is established our footy club up in so numerous ways,” Scott claimed.

“We received the footy lottery being capable to invest a ten years or so with Joel Selwood.

“You could neglect about all the things he is finished on the footy subject, and the relaxation would continue to be incredible.”

Selwood himself held it with each other for most of the push convention, but was on the verge of tears when questioned about his teammates, and in particular Tom Hawkins.

The pair performed extra than 300 AFL game titles collectively, and they shared an psychological embrace when the siren sounded on Saturday.

“I’ll miss observing him every single day. Yep,” Selwood reported as he fought again tears.

“I am going to miss out on observing him every single working day, heading to perform, leaning on him. Tom and Harry (Taylor), we bought to go by means of the full journey collectively, fundamentally.

“I was leaning on them the total time, they had been leaning on me. They almost certainly know me improved than any person else.”

Why Joel Selwood is just one of the AFL’s most revered figures

Selwood melted hearts in the course of his glittering AFL job, including at the grand last against the Sydney Swans on Saturday.

As Geelong were coming up the tunnel to run on to the MCG, club legend Gary Ablett Jr was waiting with three-yr-outdated son Levi.

Selwood scooped up Levi and took him by means of the banner and onto the ground.

Then, during the team’s lap of honour just after the recreation, Selwood found the club’s head waterboy Sammy Moorfoot in the front row of the Cats cheer squad.

Selwood gave him a hug around the fence, prior to inviting him on to the ground.

Moorfoot done the team’s lap of honour whilst putting on Jeremy Cameron’s premiership medal, right before joining the crew in the sheds.

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AFL grand last in photographs: Joel Selwood’s wonderful Ablett moment