Selwood

I'm not a Troy Selwood fan but because I am an Adam Selwood fan I thought I'd post this since Adam's mentioned in this article.



Selwood proves his worth
5:04:41 PM Sun 20 August, 2006
Simon White
Exclusive to lions.com.au
Among the gloom of the Brisbane Lions' fourth straight loss stood at least one shining beacon of hope for the future - the performance of tagger Troy Selwood opposed to previously in-form West Coast star Daniel Kerr.

While the Lions dropped away to an eventual 62-point loss after being competitive to half-time, Selwood was strong throughout in keeping Kerr to only four touches and picking up 21 possessions of his own.

Selwood isn't the quickest player on the Lions' list but his sense of positioning and willingness to put the team first have made him the club's number one tagging option.

"It was just one of those days. AFL is a funny game with the way the ball is shaped- sometimes it bounces your way and sometimes it wasn't," a modest Selwood explained.


"Today I could just sense it was bouncing away from him, so I probably got him on a lucky day. It's just mainly trying to get goal-side, always blocking his run and niggling and hassling him.

"It's a strategic working the angles sort of thing. Sometimes you are in front of him, sometimes you are to his side. You've just got to work out what the best angle is to take. The last couple of years I've been able to adapt to that kind of role and say 'well this works for me and this doesn't'."

Selwood, along with Justin Sherman and Joel Patful, was one of three Lions praised by coach Leigh Matthews for their defensive play. West Coast coach John Worsfold, meanwhile, quipped that he wouldn't mind having two Selwoods - twin brother Adam also had 21 touches for the Eagles - but doubted he would get the chance.

But perhaps the biggest compliment for Selwood came in the second term, when a frustrated Kerr gave away a 50m penalty on top of a free kick, which the 22-year-old Lion duly converted into a goal. Kerr then scrapped with Luke Power, conceding a second free kick.

"At one stage he got a bit fiery with me. But that just comes part and parcel of being a tagger," Selwood said.

"That's probably a good thing for me - when he starts doing that it means his main focus isn't on the ball."

Selwood can see comparisons between the team in which his brother currently plays and the Lions squad at the time he arrived at the Gabba in the summer of 2002-03. Back then the now thin on experience Lions had one of the deepest lists going around and were on the verge of winning an historic third flag.

"It's an exciting time for him (Adam) - it's going to be good to watch him go through September. It's good to see his progress," Selwood said.

"It's hard to see first-hand out on the field but it seems like he went okay. I'm just rapt that he's been able to find a spot in that side because it's a phenomenal side.I remember being drafted and a lot of people saying it was going to be hard to break into the Lions.

"But it's the way football works and the way the draft works - everything evens out. He got there at a time when they were rebuilding and he was able to slip in there during that rebuilding phase. He's gone on with it."

The manner in which Selwood goes about getting the football - head down and without fear - means he has copped several head knocks in his still young 32-game career. He is contemplating adding a helmet to his playing gear but says no decision will be made on the subject until the off-season.

"It's probably going to be a 2007 thing. I realise the way I play puts me in a situation where I may cop a few head knocks every now and then," he said.

"But I'm still running out there every week and giving 100 per cent - there are no second thoughts. Over the summer I'll trial a few (helmets) out, see what works best, get some advice from a few guys, maybe look at some studies and then go from there."