- Jonathon Brown reflects on loss of Adam Selwood
- Reveals his recent reconnection with Aaron Shattock
AFL legend Jonathan Brown has revealed how a heartwarming moment of reconnection with a former teammate who almost died last year helped him deal with the shattering loss of Adam Selwood.
Brown, a triple premiership player with the Lions, has reflected on the tragic death that has recently shaken both the footy world and the Selwood family.
‘It’s shocking. It’s hard to believe, really,’ he told Nova 100’s Jase & Lauren on Monday.
‘And I don’t think I’ve heard a situation like this before, obviously, twin brothers passing within a few months of each other, and it was obviously devastating with Troy, who I was close mates with.
‘Went through the funeral. Adam spoke unbelievably, as you’d expect from a twin brother, at the funeral. Had a couple of beers with him on that day. And unfortunately, you know, he’s obviously been through his own struggles as well.
‘And I guess you just, you just never know the impact of losing your twin brother and that person you’re so close to what effect that had on him as well.’
AFL great Jonathan Brown (pictured with wife Kylie) has revealed his moment of reconnection with a former teammate who almost died last year
Brown and his former Lions teammate Aaron Shattock (pictured left with Chris Scott) watched the footy at the GABBA on Sunday
Brown encouraged players and footy fans to keep in touch with their mates – and revealed he’s reconnected with former Lions player Aaron Shattock.
In December last year, Shattock almost lost his life after being crushed under an excavator he was driving at his Queensland home, with emergency services needing a hydraulic rescue tool to save him.
Shattlock’s injuries were severe and he spent more than three weeks fighting for his life in intensive care while he lay in a coma.
‘We nearly lost one of our other boys, Aaron Shattock, to an accident earlier in the year,’ said Brown.
‘Yesterday, a few of the boys took him to the GABBA, was his first outing after being in a coma for three months after a digger landed on him. So it does show the closeness of the group, but the importance of keep checking in with each other.
‘And that goes for all, everyone out there in the community, but I think it’s certainly shone a lot on in the AFL world, that’s for sure.
‘And it’s an emotional time, because, you know, I know I’m sort of, my wife Kyles accused me of being born without tear ducts, but you know, I certainly sat there, sat out the back and had a few tears when Troy passed.
‘And you just see the emotion of it all when Craig McRae, who’s very close to the Selwood family, I think Troy lived with him, break down in the press conferences as the Collingwood coach after beating Adelaide on Saturday.
Shattock almost lost his life last year after being crushed under an excavator he had been driving at his Queensland home (pictured)
Shattock’s family revealed he was still in intensive care in January and had successful surgery on his many injuries
‘You know, that was, just shows the impact that it’s had on so many people in the footy world’
Shattock made 57 appearances for Brisbane between 2000 and 2004.
He notably came on as an interchange during the 2002 grand final, helping the Lions beat Collingwood for their second straight premiership.
He’d later move to Port Adelaide where he’d make 11 appearances before being delisted by the club in 2006.
In January his family revealed he was still sedated and in intensive care after having successful surgery on his fractured ribs and broken and dislocated arm.
