Jeremy McGovern: Adam Selwood immortalised the best qualities of what it meant to be a West Coast Eagle

Adam Selwood was as reliable off the field as a clubman and mate as he was on the field. He left a legacy as the perfect teammate who flew under the radar — the man who would do all the hard work when he played, do the dirty work, take the tag and take the best small forwards. Sellers was just as reliable off the field — he always had a smile on his face around the club, he was always such a professional when he had to be but the funniest person in the room when it was time to have a laugh. What you saw is what you got with Sellers, he was one of the most honest and upfront people I ever met. He was the type of bloke who would straight away put a smile on your face. Sellers was universally loved at the club. You would never hear a bad words said about him. He was loyal as anything and will always be held in the highest regard inside our four walls and, I’m sure, out of it too. I remember when I was first drafted as a rookie in 2011, Adam was in his final couple of years on the list. He was a premiership player who was more than a decade into his career, but I’ll never forget how welcoming he way to me and he set a perfect example right from the start. He challenged you to be better, set a high standard when it came to training but was an absolute laugh who had a lot of fun as well. There may have been bigger names and leaders who the light was shone on more, but Selwood played a crucial role in connecting everyone at the club. My relationship with him was great, he stuck around after his playing career to help with the AFLW program and later worked with our academies, schools and later the WAFL team. He absolutely loved his footy, he was so passionate about it and it would shine through in everything he did. Every person who knew him in these four walls is feeling this — it’s really brought so many of us together in the days since. Just last night, a group of former and current Eagles met up to talk about Sellers and the impact he had on us. Even after he is gone he is still bringing people together. Losing Sellers was been a shock and a lot to process. Winning the game on Sunday against St Kilda was the best way we could have honoured him. It’s a victory that truly could not have come at a better time and I am so proud of the team and their efforts under such difficult circumstances. On behalf of the West Coast playing group, I want to send our condolences to the Selwood family — we cannot imagine what you are going though. I’m sure they are all so proud of the son, the brother, the husband, the friend and the person he was, because I know I was extremely proud to have rubbed shoulders with him. Thank you to Eagles fans and the AFL community for the outpour of love and support you’ve shown us players and the club in the past week. And thanks for everything, Sellers. Your legacy will live on forever at this club.