|
Joel Anthony Selwood (born 26 May 1988) is an Australian rules footballer and the current captain of the Geelong Football Club in the Australian Football League (AFL). A midfielder, tall and weighing , Selwood is able to contribute inside or outside while on the ball. A standout junior track and field athlete and footballer, Selwood entered top-level football early, joining the TAC Cup competition as a bottom-aged player. His accomplishments as a junior included Most Valuable Player awards at state and international levels, captaining Australia in the International Rules Series, and selection in the All-Australian and TAC Cup Team of the Year sides. Despite a serious knee injury during his final year of junior football, Selwood was selected with Geelong's first pick, and seventh overall, in the 2006 AFL Draft. Selwood made his AFL debut in 2007, winning the AFL Rising Star Award and AFLPA Best First Year Player Award. He has since become a triple premiership player, a NAB Cup winner, a four-time All-Australian—twice as captain—a triple Carji Greeves Medallist, a Michael Tuck Medallist, an AFLPA Best Captain Award winner, and a four-time recipient of the AFLPA Robert Rose Most Courageous Player Award. Selwood has also captained Australia in the International Rules Series, represented the Victorian state team as the youngest player to feature in the all-star event, and has been awarded life membership with Geelong. Selwood holds one of the highest winning–percentage records of any player in VFL-AFL history, helping the club reach three successive AFL Grand Finals from 2007–2009 and another in 2011. After serving one season as the club vice-captain in 2011, Selwood was appointed as the captain of Geelong at the beginning of 2012. ==Early life== Joel Selwood was born to Bryce and Maree Selwood in the country town of Bendigo, Victoria. He was raised in a family of sportspeople. His mother Maree was a top runner and tennis player, and elder twins Adam and Troy were identified as talented footballers at a young age.〔McClure, G, ("Selwoods take it one son at a time" ), ''The Age'', 5 July 2005. (Archived ) from the original on 2 February 2013. Retrieved 4 October 2007.〕 As a two-year-old, Selwood was forced to wear splints on his leg to help overcome a walking disability.〔 Selwood displayed athletic talent from an early age.〔 He was the state hurdling champion from under-10s through to the under-15s, and in one year held every running and jumping record at the Bendigo Sports Centre, except the 100 metres sprint.〔 Growing up with his older brothers, Selwood was accustomed to playing with bigger teammates and opponents. By the time he was eight years old, he had played his first competitive game of football, against children four years his senior, and had kicked three goals.〔 Selwood attended Catholic College Bendigo and played junior football with the Sandhurst Football Club, until he was chosen to play for the Bendigo Pioneers in the TAC Cup competition throughout 2005.〔〔Matthews, B, ("Joel Selwood versus Jarryn Geary" ), ''The Herald Sun'', 4 July 2009. Retrieved 19 July 2013.〕 Although his age made him ineligible to enter the 2005 AFL Draft, Selwood's accomplishments during the year led to AFL Talent Manager Kevin Sheehan rating him "the best 17-year-old in Australia".〔("Selwood in running for top award" ), ''The Bendigo Advertiser'', 12 July 2007. Archived from the (original ) on 7 February 2012. Retrieved 5 December 2007.〕 Bendigo Pioneers regional manager Ray Byrne noted that "ability-wise, Joel was streets ahead of everyone. Even at an early age, he was a standout".〔 Byrne praised Selwood's professionalism, noting that he had "never seen a kid prepare in the TAC Cup like Joel (Selwood). He had a fantastic football brain, he could sort it out within 10 minutes of a game who should be where and (doing) what".〔 Selwood received an array of accolades and honours as a bottom-aged player,〔 winning mid-year State honours for Victoria Country in the AFL National Championships. His performances in the championships earned him end-of-year All-Australian honours and the Most Valuable Player award for Victoria Country. In addition, he was named in the TAC Cup Team of the Year, awarded a scholarship within the prestigious AIS-AFL Academy, and subsequently captained his older teammates in the annual under-18s International Rules Series in Ireland. His performances in Ireland earned him the Ron Barassi Medal, as the adjudicated Most Valuable Player of the tour.〔Witham, J, ("NAB AFL Rising Star nomination: round 5" ), Australian Football League & Bigpond, 1 May 2007. Archived from the (original ) on 22 October 2012. Retrieved 19 September 2007.〕 Selwood's achievements in local football were recognised when he was listed as a finalist in the 2006 Bendigo Sports Star of the Year Award.〔The Bendigo Advertiser, ("Selwood creates history" ), ''The Bendigo Advertiser'', 13 March 2010. (Archived ) from the original on 22 February 2013. Retrieved 15 March 2010.〕 Returning in 2006 with the Pioneers, Selwood entered his final year of junior football as one of the top rated prospects in his age group.〔("Joel Selwood wins the NAB AFL Rising Star Award" ), National Australia Bank, 5 September 2007. (Archived ) from the original on 22 February 2013. Retrieved 16 December 2007.〕 His achievements at the junior level were recognised early by the AFL Player's Association, when he was awarded the Mike Fitzpatrick Scholarship,〔Murnane, J, ("Nine AFLPA Mike Fitzpatrick scholarship selected in AFL draft" ), Australian Football League Players Association, 27 November 2006. Archived from the (original ) on 2 September 2007. Retrieved 19 May 2008.〕 and the AFL Life Members Education Fund Award.〔("Naitanui already making headlines" ), Australian Football League & Bigpond, 14 September 2007. Archived from the (original ) on 22 July 2012. Retrieved 19 May 2008.〕 Rewarded with the captaincy of Bendigo for his final season, Selwood again won mid-year State honours for Victoria Country. However, a knee injury occurred only six rounds into the competition forcing him to undergo surgery—his fourth knee operation within two years—prematurely ending his season.〔Gullan, p. 140.〕 抄文引用元・出典: フリー百科事典『 ウィキペディア（Wikipedia）』 ■ウィキペディアで「Joel Selwood」の詳細全文を読む スポンサード リンク
|