GEELONG'S JOEL SELWOOD NAMED NAB AFL RISING STAR FOR ROUND 5
Ben Jensen 1 May 2007

By Ben Jensen NEW CAT Joel Selwood has been named the NAB AFL Rising Star for round 5, joining fellow draftee Tom Hawkins, who won the honours in round 3. In just his fourth AFL game, Selwood was in Geelong's best three performers in Sunday's loss to the Kangaroos, along with fellow midfielders Jimmy Bartel and Paul Chapman. Already Selwood is being touted as future Captain of the club, a tag that should sit well with Bendigo-raised Selwood.

LINK: JOEL SELWOOD INTERVIEW (from footyheads.com.au)

Selwood made his debut in round 1 against the Western Bulldogs. His first win had to wait until the round 2, over the Blues, also at Telstra Dome. He was meant to sit out the round 3 win over Melbourne at the MCG, but was famously called on his mobile phone moments before the game started as he was about to take his seat in the stand, in civvies and chewing on a chocolate bar. The late notice didn't phase Selwood, who ran onto the field late in the first quarter and was amoungst Geelong's best.

He finally had a week off, missing the round 4 loss to the Tasmania Hawks in Launceston, but regained his place in the side on Sunday. He impressed everybody with his tenacity and never say die attitude, none other than this correspondent. Paul Chapman, who incidentally should be one of Geelong's three official captains, said "Joel Selwood was great; he came here to play. He was inspiring today, the way that he went at the footy."

Embattled Coach Mark 'Bomber' Thompson was equally impressed. These comments were attributed to Thompson: "Joel is a deserved winner of this week's nomination. He was terrific; he displayed real leadership qualities on the field and put his body on the line for the entire match. I was very proud of him."

Geelong should get at least one other nomination this season; our tip is Travis Varcoe. Like Selwood, he was one of the only bright sparks on Sunday, racking up plenty of tackles and other stats that won't count like taps on and shepherds.

Geelong play Richmond this Sunday evening in a twilight game at Telstra Dome.

AFL MEDIA RELEASE

Geelong's Joel Selwood wins Round 5 NAB AFL Rising Star Nomination

Joel Selwood from the Geelong Football Club is the Round Five NAB AFL Rising Star nominee.

The 18-year-old midfielder's natural leadership shone through Sunday against the Kangaroos at Skilled Stadium.

Playing in just his fourth AFL game after his debut in Round two, Joel was named in Geelong's best with 25 possessions (12 kicks and 13 handballs), six marks and nine tackles. His opponents included Shannon Grant, Daniel Harris and Andrew Swallow.

Geelong coach Mark Thompson said Joel had inspired the team. "Joel is a deserved winner of this week's nomination. He was terrific; he displayed real leadership qualities on the field and put his body on the line for the entire match. I was very proud of him," he said.

Despite a knee injury keeping him to only three games in 2006, Joel's stellar junior career made him certain top 10 selection at the 2006 NAB AFL Draft. He was Geelong's first selection (seventh overall).

A member of the AIS-AFL Academy Squad, Joel captained the Under 17 Australian side against Ireland in 2005 and won the Barassi Medal for best on ground.

After representing Vic Country in 2005 NAB AFL Under 18 Championships he was named an All-Australian.

Joel was recruited from the Sandhurst Football Club in Bendigo. He is the third Selwood to play AFL following older brothers Adam (West Coast Eagles) and Troy (Brisbane Lions). The fourth and youngest Selwood brother, Scott, is currently playing with the Bendigo Pioneers.

Joel is Geelong's second NAB AFL Rising Star nominee in 2007 following Tom Hawkins in Round three.

JOEL SELWOOD CELEBRATES HIS FIRST WIN, OVER CARLTON ROUND 2 (CLICK FOR LARGER PHOTO)

JOEL SELWOOD PICTURED AT HOME IN BENDIGO