Geelong great Jimmy Bartel has paid tribute to Joel Selwood after he announced his retirement on Wednesday.
Selwood will hang up the boots after becoming the first-year four-time Geelong premiership player following the club’s 81-win against Sydney in the Grand Final last Saturday.
Bartel – who was Selwood’s teammate during the 2007, 2009 and 2011 premiership – said he was rapt to see the wider football world appreciate a player who he shares a close relationship with.
“The big moments that happened pre and post the Grand Final gave people a glimpse into the Joel Selwood that everyone at Geelong and close to him knows,” he said on Sportsday.
“The passive watchers of football (sometimes) don’t understand why there’s so much love there – people now have a true (appreciation) for the Joel Selwood we know off the field.
“Taking Levi Ablett out onto the field, giving his boots to Auskicker Archie and then his relationship with (club water boy) Sam Moorfoot, who all of us at Geelong love.
“People got to see the Joel Selwood we’ve got to see all the time.”
Selwood retires as one of the greatest players to ever play for Geelong, having being named in the All-Australian side six times and won the club’s best and fairest award on three separate occasions.