By Jon Pierik
Geelong missed the finals only once in Joel Selwood’s distinguished 16-year AFL career. But in his first year of retirement, the Cats are facing the unthinkable - going from premiers to missing September altogether.
Two straight defeats, compounded by hamstring strains to Tom Hawkins and Mark Blicavs, have left the Cats in ninth spot with nine wins and a draw, needing to win three of their final four home-and-away matches to make the eight. It’s no easy task, for they have Port Adelaide (GMHBA Stadium), Collingwood (MCG), St Kilda (Marvel) and a potentially defining clash against Western Bulldogs (GMHBA Stadium) to come.
They could do with having Selwood in the heat of the action, but that’s no longer possible, the 35-year-old keeping busy in his new life, including launching his autobiography All In on Tuesday.
Happy days: Joel Selwood is given a fitting farewell by Geelong supporters at GMHBA Stadium.Credit: Getty
But Selwood has full faith the Cats will find touch, and can find a way to temporarily cover for Hawkins, expected to return to training by the end of the week, and Blicavs.
“Things haven’t quite fallen into place for the Cats so far this season, but these are the situations where the coach is at his best, finding opportunities wherever they exist to put together a plan to beat the opposition,” Selwood said.
“The Cats are still good enough and with the competition so tight the opportunity for finals remains alive. I reckon they could surprise a few teams on the way home.”
Coach Chris Scott admitted after the shock loss to Fremantle on Saturday that Jeremy Cameron had not been himself recently. After a superb start to the season when he had 34 goals in nine rounds, Cameron has managed only 10 since, and hasn’t quite had his sharpness since returning from a concussion against Melbourne when accidentally hit by teammate Gary Rohan.
When versatile tall Blicavs was hurt on Saturday, it was the high-leaping Rohan who stepped in as back-up ruck. The Cats will now need to find a way to replace goal-kicking legend Hawkins. Cameron could be left alone to be the sole marking focal point, while Esava Ratugolea, who had been playing as a defender, could be recalled.
Selwood was surrounded by family, friends and former teammates at GMHBA Stadium, as he released his book detailing his life on the field, in the dressingroom and the fertility troubles he and wife Brit went through before this year having son, Joey.
Joel Selwood made his feelings clear in supporting coach Chris Scott in 2021.Credit: Getty Images
In his book, Selwood also reveals he had to recover from a crack in his back which threatened to derail his finals campaign last year, having been hurt just weeks earlier in his 350th game.
“The Bulldogs’ Tom Liberatore spent the first quarter of my 350th just bashing into my back every time he had a chance. Every time I rose from the bench or was being tackled, I thought: ‘Something is up with my back’,” Selwood said.
“After our win I waved to the crowd as I ran a lap of the centre square post-game. I thought that was important because it was a cold night, and everyone had stayed to watch me being chaired off.
“I had to say thank you in some way. I could feel a twinge each time I lifted my arm to wave to fans and my friends and key people in my life who were all at the game. I had a scan later that week which revealed I had a small crack in my back.
“No-one seemed too concerned, however. Only Brad Close picked up on it when he saw me lifting weights well below my capacity and questioned me. ‘This is all I’ve got today,’ I said. Brad was quick with his response, accompanied by a smirk: ‘Remember, you have to get better every day.’ He had heard me parrot that phrase enough times; I deserved the gentle rebuke.
“I missed the following week – a scheduled rest – against St Kilda. By the time I returned to play against the Gold Coast, I was sore but better than usual for that time of the year. The Queensland sunshine helped.”
The premiership skipper also reveals he approached club president Craig Drummond on the way to the 2021 qualifying final against Port Adelaide in Adelaide, reinforcing his support for Scott, who was off-contract amid speculation there could be change.
“As we left Geelong on the bus taking us to the airport to catch a plane to Adelaide before the qualifying final, I took the opportunity to give Craig Drummond an idea of what I was feeling about the club’s direction,” Selwood said.
“Brian Cook was leaving as CEO after 20 years and external voices were becoming emboldened about a need to change our coach who had one more year left on his contract. I knew those voices would only become louder if we did not win the flag.
“What I said to Craig was short but very clear: ‘You have to back the coach.’ My main thrust was that the board and the club needed to show him some love rather than entertain the doubters. No matter how the season ended, changing the coach at this point was not the path to success.”
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