JOE SELLWOOD SIGNS OFF FOLLOWING PREMIERSHIP
Ben Jensen 20 October 2007

By Ben Jensen GEELONG'S 1937 PREMIERSHIP PLAYER JOEL SELLWOOD has passed away. Aged 96, Sellwood was the oldest surviving VFL/AFL Premiership Player. Selwood played for the Cats between 1930 and 1945, playing 180 games in a career interrupted by war. In more recent times, Sellwood has had a bit to do with fellow number 21, Cameron Mooney, who dramatically turned around his form this year, earning All Australian honours along the way to a Premiership.

Joe is survived by his four daughters Lesley, Margaret, Joan and Judith, 18 grandchildren, 37 great grandchildren and 7 great, great grandchildren.

Joe's funeral will be held on Tuesday 23 October at 11.00am in the Fred Flanagan Room at Skilled Stadium.

While he wasn’t able to attend the Grand Final, he listened in a nursing home and according to Peter from Werribee, had a smile from ear to ear.

Peter from Werribee talks of Joe's joy at the Cats' flag (Courtesy 3AW) (MP3 Format)

LINKS

Cameron Mooney Part on Hold (Interview with Mooney / Sellwood) Herald Sun, 27/9/2007
Cat Sellwood Mourned Herald Sun, 20/10/2007

FORUM http://www.thecattery.com.au/applications/phpBB/viewtopic.php?t=21

MEDIA RELEASE FROM GEELONG FOOTBALL CLUB

It is with great sadness that the club received the news that past player Joe Sellwood had passed away last night, aged 96 at his nursing home in Belmont.

Joe played 180 games with the club from 1930 - 1941 and 1944 - 1945. In his time at the club Joe played centre half forward, centre half back and ruck rover. Joe played in the 1937 premiership and wore guernsey number 21.

Joe was recruited from Wunghnu in the Goulburn Valley (30km due north of Shepparton).

Joe is survived by his four daughters Lesley, Margaret, Joan and Judith, 18 grandchildren, 37 great grandchildren and 7 great, great grandchildren.

"Joe was a terrific character and story teller. He was greatly admired and respected by all at the club and when he attended games became the centre of attention because of his humour and quick wit," Geelong's chief executive Brian Cook said.

"He was an absolute gentleman. He will be sadly missed," he said.

Joe's funeral will be held on Tuesday 23 October at 11.00am in the Fred Flanagan Room at Skilled Stadium.

MEDIA RELEASE FROM THE AUSTRALIAN FOOTBALL LEAGUE

AFL Chief Executive Andrew Demetriou today said the AFL wished to pass on its condolences to the family of Joe Sellwood, after the former Geelong player passed away last night at the age of 96.

Sellwood had been the game's oldest living premiership player, having been a member of Geelong's 1937 side that won the Grand Final against Collingwood, and Mr Demetriou said he was pleased the former Victorian representative had been able to see a new generation of Geelong players claim premiership success last month.

"Joe did us a great honour late in the season when he joined us to launch the 150-year celebrations for the game next year," Mr Demetriou said.

"As a living piece of our game's history, Joe's recall of events from his career had not faded in any way through the passing of some 70 years since he was a premiership player and his commitment to the Cats had not altered in any way either.

"He was not able to join us at the MCG on Grand Final Day to watch Geelong claim the premiership after such a long wait, but everyone in our organisation was delighted that he was able to enjoy the game at home with his family," he said.

Sellwood, along with Essendon's Jack Jones and Geelong's Wayne Closter, was given honorary induction into the AFL 200 Club this season, due to the fact his career suffered significant interruption during World War 2, preventing him from reaching 200 games as could reasonably be expected.

In all, Joe Sellwood played in 181 games for Geelong and Victoria between 1930-45, albeit that Geelong withdrew from the VFL competition for two full seasons in 1942-43. Sellwood also worked in essential industry during the Second World War, further reducing his playing availability in 1939-41 and 1944-45.

PROFILE FROM FULL POINTS FOOTY

Joe Sellwood, who was among the handful of top level footballers to have been born in New Zealand, was a familiar and formidable presence in Geelong teams during the course of no fewer than fourteen seasons. Recruited from Wunghnu in the Goulburn Valley Football Association he made his VFL debut in the Cats' round 7 game against Richmond at Corio Oval in 1930, and impressed with 3 of his team's 9 goals in a 1 point loss.

He made just 3 further senior appearances that year, and managed only 3 games the following season when Geelong went top, but in 1932 he became a key member of the side. Renowned for his strength, prodigious kicking, and tremendous marking ability, especially in wet weather, Sellwood was equally at home at centre half back, centre half forward, or on the ball.

Selected to mind Collingwood sharpshooter Ron Todd in the 1937 grand final (reviewed here) he was given the runaround early, but after being shifted to centre half forward he emerged as one of the key factors in the Cats' eventual 32 point win.

Sellwood continued to play with Geelong until the opening round of 1945 (missing the entire 1942 and 1943 seasons as the Cats went into temporary abeyance owing to the war), by which time he had played a total of 180 VFL games and kicked 97 goals. He also played 1 interstate game for the VFL.

JOEL SELLWOOD BACK AT THE MCG IN SEPTEMBER