AFL Geelong Cats Joel Selwood

He disclosed he made the conclusion to call time on his vocation about six months in advance of the grand remaining, and suggests Saturday’s victory did not affect the determination.

Geelong captain announces retirement

“I could go most likely at 85 for every cent subsequent year, and anyone could search after me, but I had to be all in. I just could not do that,” Selwood explained.

“I couldn’t even inform a few of my very best mates until finally grand final working day. I couldn’t convey to my teammates, I could not enable them engage in on emotion.

“It can be been unbelievable – I’ve had terrific guidance the entire way alongside.

“The journey has been good.”

The 34-year-old gained four premierships and played 355 video games.

Selwood was select No.7 in the 2006 draft, and was a member of Geelong’s 2007, 2009, 2011 and 2022 premiership sides.

Touching Cats second for the duration of run out

He also holds the AFL’s record for most games as captain, acquiring led the Cats for 226 matches.

Cats mentor Chris Scott could not praise his retiring captain ample.

“When you take all the things into thing to consider, he is the greatest footy participant I’ve ever found,” Scott said.

“The biggest going out on top, I won’t be able to think of a better way for Joel to complete.”

The mentor looked psychological when speaking about Selwood the individual, rather than the player.

“(He) will be irreplaceable. But what Joel has carried out is established our footy club up in so numerous ways,” Scott claimed.

“We received the footy lottery being able to commit a 10 years or so with Joel Selwood.

“You could forget about every little thing he’s performed on the footy area, and the relaxation would still be amazing.”

Selwood himself held it collectively for most of the press conference, but was on the verge of tears when questioned about his teammates, and in distinct Tom Hawkins.

The pair performed extra than 300 AFL video games with each other, and they shared an emotional embrace when the siren sounded on Saturday.

“I’ll skip observing him each individual working day. Yep,” Selwood mentioned as he fought again tears.

“I will miss looking at him each day, heading to work, leaning on him. Tom and Harry (Taylor), we acquired to go by the whole journey alongside one another, essentially.

“I was leaning on them the total time, they ended up leaning on me. They possibly know me better than any one else.”

Why Joel Selwood is one of the AFL’s most revered figures

Selwood melted hearts during his glittering AFL profession, which includes at the grand remaining in opposition to the Sydney Swans on Saturday.

As Geelong ended up coming up the tunnel to operate on to the MCG, club legend Gary Ablett Jr was waiting with three-12 months-old son Levi.

Selwood scooped up Levi and took him through the banner and on to the ground.

Then, during the team’s lap of honour just after the video game, Selwood found the club’s head waterboy Sammy Moorfoot in the front row of the Cats cheer squad.

Selwood gave him a hug over the fence, just before inviting him onto the ground.

Moorfoot done the team’s lap of honour though putting on Jeremy Cameron’s premiership medal, before signing up for the workforce in the sheds.

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AFL grand last in shots: Joel Selwood’s wonderful Ablett second