AFL legend Chris Judd has posted a heartfelt tribute to his former Eagles teammate Adam Selwood, revealing that the 41-year-old was kind to everyone ‘but not himself’.
Selwood tragically passed away on Saturday, just months after the death of his twin brother Troy by suicide.
Judd, who was the skipper of West Coast when they won the premiership in 2006, said that Selwood was the perfect teammate.
‘Some people bounce when they run,’ Judd posted on Instagam alongside a photo of him embracing Selwood on the pitch.
‘They glide with their feet barely touching the ground, the result of genetic gifts bestowed on them. That wasn’t how Sellars ran.
‘He was a great runner, but it was purely a result of grit, determination and work. His knees slightly knocked, knee lift almost non-existent, every step was a testament to his determination, which was without peer.
Chris Judd (pictured centre), who captained West Coast to the 2006 premiership, said his teammate Adam Selwood (pictured right) was kind to everyone but not himself
‘He was the perfect teammate, you knew you were getting his everything each week on the field while being completely focused on the team.
‘While off the field his personality blended a hard edge with kindness and compassion, a kindness he gave to everyone else but not himself.
‘I hope he’s up having a beer with Troy, with the sun shining on them both (with low levels of UV), and when he takes the field, I hope the forwards aren’t trying to get goal side anymore and that the new teammates love playing with you as much as we did. Rest Easy.’
Judd’s wife Bec shared the post alongside an emoji of a broken heart, and also made a tribute post of her own on Instagram.
More tributes have poured in for Adam Selwood, with the former Eagle remembered fondly before West Coast’s shock 28-point win over St Kilda on Sunday.
Selwood died at the age of 41 in Western Australia on Saturday, just three months after his identical twin and fellow former AFL player Troy Selwood’s death.
Adam and Troy are brothers of Geelong champion Joel Selwood and former Eagles and Cats midfielder Scott Selwood.
A minute’s silence was held before Sunday’s match, with the big screens at Optus Stadium displaying a photo of Selwood.
Judd said that Selwood’s determination on the pitch ‘was without peer’
Judd (pictured with wife Bec) played alongside Selwood at West Coast from 2003 to 2007
West Coast had earlier released a touching tribute on social media featuring some of Selwood’s career highlights.
West Coast players channelled the emotion to pull off a stunning 16.12 (108) to 12.8 (80) win over the Saints – their first victory of the season.
‘It’s been one of the most emotional periods of my life that I’ve been through, and I’m sure for many people at the football club it’s just an incredibly challenging and sad time,’ West Coast coach Andrew McQualter said of the impact Selwood’s death has had on the club.
‘I want to pay my respects to the Selwood family, and all of our thoughts are with them in this sad time.
‘Adam had a huge influence at our football club and impacted many people that still work at our football club today.
‘I just thought the way our players represented our football club today was something that I am, and we are, incredibly proud of in challenging circumstances.’
Selwood notched up 187 games for the Eagles, including the 2006 premiership, before retiring from the AFL in 2013
McQualter said he let his players grieve in the way they felt most comfortable.
‘There’s no right way to do it. We were just open and honest and raw and we let people just have whatever feelings they had,’ McQualter said.
‘When we got here today, we just asked people to play in the right spirit and put their emotions into being a great teammate like Adam was, and we got the performance we got.’
Selwood played 187 games for the Eagles, including the 2006 premiership, before retiring from the AFL in 2013.
He joined West Coast’s coaching department after his retirement, before becoming the club’s inaugural head of female football.
Selwood was central in the recruiting process that landed key AFLW players such as inaugural captain Emma Swanson and club champion Dana Hooker.
All up, Selwood spent 18 years at West Coast, and he is a life member of the club.
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