Adam Selwood: Fellow 2006 premiership Eagle Chris Judd pays tribute to ‘perfect teammate’

Eagles premiership captain Chris Judd has penned a beautiful tribute to Adam Selwood, describing his old midfield partner as “the perfect teammate”.

Judd lined up alongside Selwood in 67 games for Waalitj Marawar (West Coast) between 2003 and 2007, including the 2006 grand final victory. On that day, Judd was the sole Eagles player to touch the ball more than Selwood, who was among his team’s best with 26 disposals.

The dual Brownlow medallist took to Instagram on Monday to pour out his heart in memory of his former teammate, describing his accomplished career as a testament to his hard work and determination.

“Some people bounce when they run,” Judd wrote of Selwood, who passed away on Saturday aged 41.

“They glide with their feet barely touching the ground, the result of genetic gifts bestowed on them.

“That wasn’t how Sellers ran. He was a great runner, but it was purely a result of grit, determination and work.

“His knees slightly knocked, knee lift almost non-existent, every step was a testament to his determination, which was without peer.”

After his mid-career move to Carlton, Judd also experienced Selwood’s tenacity and work-rate from a different perspective, with the pair often pitted against one another up until the latter’s retirement in 2013.

“You knew you were getting his everything each week on the field while being completely focused on the team,” Judd wrote.

“While off the field his personality blended a hard edge with kindness and compassion, a kindness he gave to everyone else but not himself.

“I hope he’s up having a beer with Troy, with the sun shining on them both (with low levels of UV), and when he takes the field, I hope the forwards aren’t trying to get goal side anymore and that the new teammates love playing with you as much as we did.

“Rest easy.”

Judd’s social media post was accompanied by a photo of the front page of Melbourne’s Sunday Age newspaper from the day after the Eagles’ 2006 flag triumph, showing Judd, Selwood and Beau Waters embracing in the moments after the final siren.

It came as Ben Cousins added to the outpouring of emotional tributes to Selwood, who was named Waalitj Marawar’s best clubman in 2013 and achieved consecutive top-three finishes in the Eagles’ best-and-fairest in 2007-08.

“Sellers was such a big part of our side,” Cousins told The West Australian.

“At the moment we are all in shock… trying to come to terms with what has happened.

“There will be time in the coming days and week to pay tribute to the huge contribution he made to the West Coast Eagles and the broader football community …but right now we send our love and condolences to the Selwood family.

“We love him and we are going to miss him.”

Fellow former Eagles midfielder Michael Braun - who played six seasons alongside Selwood - also paid his respects on Instagram.

Braun captioned a photo of himself, Darren Glass, Matt Priddis, Mark LeCras, Nic Naitanui and Trent Carroll catching up for a beer in Scarborough on Saturday: “You don’t need to knock on heaven’s door buddy, you are already there. RIP ‘Sellers’.”

West Coast will be known as Waalitj Marawar for Sir Doug Nicholls Round.