Universal Love Joel Selwood - 300 Games for Captain Courageous

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Harry Taylor's heartfelt letter to Joel Selwood ahead of his 300th game.

Congratulations mate on reaching 300 AFL games. You’ve always held the torch and shone light on the path ahead for so many of your teammates.

You’ve had an amazing influence on my career. You embraced me the first day I walked through the doors of the GFC and today 13 years on, you still light the path forward for me on this journey.

I have loved our pre-match kick-ups, our pre or post yoga catchups, but nothing more so than putting on the Geelong jumper knowing number 14 is going to be there leading the charge into battle. You have been a constant in my career, a constant that I have come to cherish so very much.

You are the most determined and competitive player that I have ever played with, but also the most considerate. People outside of the club acknowledge your courage and grit, but they don’t often recognise your selflessness and willingness to help our entire football club to the level that they should.

You are a special leader because of the content of your character and the calibre of your competence. You give everything to the purpose and show respect for the game and your teammates through the way you approach each day. We all strive to enact this in our lives, however few are able to accomplish these actions to the level that you do.

I think you have had one of the biggest influences of any of the 1,088 to have put on the Geelong hoops and I will re-tell many fond memories and stories about the times I played alongside one of Geelong’s greatest ever players.

Congratulations mate and good luck.

 
I actually think Selwood is still underrated in these sense that everyone talks about his toughness and his leadership, which tends to mean his skillfulness gets less attention than it deserves. I genuinely think Joel sees the game better than almost anyone in the AFL. His intelligence and game sense is exceptional. He has great vision so he always chooses good options. His footskills aren't on the GAJ-tier freakishly amazing level, but they're still very good.

He will remembered as one of the toughest footballers ever to play the game. And rightly so. But he's been more than that. Much more.

Agreed. He is an exceptional kick to a leading target. Something that is never discussed when it comes to Joel.
 

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So many good tributes on Instagram by teammates - love this one though: they're drafted together, debuted 1 game apart and been playing alongside each other for the last 14 years. But from the looks of photo #4, not sure Joel's much help on the farm

 
I hope that he was awarded for the play that is shown on todays papers. Stretching for a mark the ball, not in his hands and being held by a Richmond player. But probably not , another rule that is blatantly disregarded these days- holding the man/ woman without the ball.
 

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