Joel Selwood has today announced his retirement from the game after a record-breaking career. 

Selwood’s career began like many others, in a scene that’s played out across nearly every suburb in the southern states of Australia.  

Where little kids and their big dreams chase an odd shaped ball in parks, backyards, school yards and driveways, pretending to be their footy heroes. 

It was no different in Strathdale, a suburb three kilometres east of the Bendigo city centre, home to the Selwood family, where brothers Joel, Troy, Adam and Scott would battle it out until Mum, Maree, would call them in for dinner as the sun dipped below the horizon. 

Years later, Selwood would spend draft night in that same home alongside his family listening to it on a ‘crackly radio’ when he heard his name called, and an iconic career was born. 

A career that was anything but ordinary. 

His accolades, achievements, and awards are too numerous to mention. They read like a kaleidoscope of not just greatness, but of heart, persistence, bravery and a tribute to what he calls the ‘lonely hours' of work and preparation to be Joel Selwood.

Since being drafted to Geelong in 2006, arguably no other person has had the impact that Joel has had within the AFL both on and off the field.

Selwood captained the Cats to the 2022 grand final win on Saturday, making him the only Geelong player to claim four AFL premierships and he will retire after a Club record 355 games, with 239 of those as captain, and 305 of them alongside his great mate Tom Hawkins.   

“To have been able to play 16 years with the club I grew up loving is truly a dream come true,” Selwood said. 

“To arrive at the Club in 2006 and to share the field with so many great players and to have enjoyed the successes together is better than I could ever have imagined. And to cap it off on Saturday with the Premiership was a great way to finish.”

Premiership teammate Patrick Dangerfield reflected on Selwood’s impact on the Club.

“He is a close friend, and a mentor, but it’s difficult to articulate what it means to play alongside Joel, you just walk taller because he gives you so much confidence. 

“So much of our success as a club over the last 10 years is because of him. 

“If we all aimed to have a little bit of Joel in each of us the world would be a better place.”

Geelong Cats AFLW captain Meg McDonald spoke of the impact Selwood has had not just on the football club, but on the broader community. 

“The enormity of Joel’s impact on our Club is immeasurable, his excellence on field is only matched by his kindness off it,” she said. 

“Uncompromising performance, connection to community, warmth, and humility.

“The sense of pride that we all get from pulling on the Hoops and representing the Cats is as deep as it is because of what Joel has made it represent. A standard of performance on the field, inside the Cattery, and in the community, that we all seek to emulate.

“Every team within our Club, old and new, men’s and women’s, football and non-football, aspires to work and give just as he has. 

“His attention to our people and our place – his care for culture – has built the environment that we all love and enjoy today.”

Long-time teammate Tom Hawkins said he has savoured every moment that he has spent both on and off the field with his great friend. 

“I'm forever grateful of having the experience with Joel Selwood,” Hawkins said. 

“To have people alongside me like Joel on this journey, to help guide me through my career has been unbelievable. Joel's CV is as long as and as good as anyone’s that's ever played the game. Down at the football club, Joel will go down as the greatest, in my eyes, the greatest Geelong player to have ever played for the club.”

Harry Taylor, former teammate and current Head of Medical and Conditioning Services, once summed up Joel perfectly; “the best way to describe Joel Selwood for the impact he has had on our club and community (and the greater game), is he is already in the room with Legends, even though his name isn’t on the wall yet.  

“That’s how extraordinary he is.”

Two-time Geelong premiership coach Chris Scott said that Selwood was the Club’s greatest ever player. 

“I said earlier this season leading into Joel’s 350th match that he is the greatest player I have seen, and I haven’t changed my mind,” Scott said. 

“I feel so privileged to have worked with such a great captain and in terms of impact on a football club and support to a senior coach, I can’t think of anyone better.

“He’s an extraordinary player and has always prioritised others over individual achievements. I feel enormously proud and thankful to have been part of Joel Selwood’s career.”  

Geelong Cats CEO Steve Hocking paid tribute on behalf of the Club to a special player, but also an incredible person. 

“There are no words that could do justice to what Joel Selwood has done for Geelong, the AFL and wider community over the last 16 seasons.

“He’s been one of the greatest players over the past decade and has been an incredible role model for every Geelong player he has played alongside and every staff member he has worked with.

“Joel made an impact at the Club right from his first season, and there’s no doubt without his leadership as captain over the last 10 years we wouldn’t have experienced the success we have. 

“We have been extremely fortunate to have had him wearing the hoops and leading our Club and we congratulate him on the outstanding career he has had. He is a man of high integrity and has carried himself on and off the field with great distinction and class throughout his playing career. 

“We would also like to thank and congratulate Joel’s wife Brit and his parents Maree, Bryce and brothers Adam, Troy and Scott, they have ridden the wave with him, provided support and have been great supporters of Geelong, as Neil Balme said, you can never have enough Selwoods.”

When Joel Selwood leaves the building for the last time whenever that is, his locker cleared of boots, socks and strapping, it’ll never really be empty, the Selwood legacy will endure. 

From now on, every player that walks through those same doors, filling up their locker for the first time with their own footy dreams, will need look no further than the number 14 to know what being a part of the Geelong Football Club is all about. 

Thank you, Joel