Geelong will be one of four AFL clubs fielding a new skipper this season, but Joel Selwood feels a unique preparation has him ready to take the reins of the reigning premiers.
There was no surprise when Selwood was named Cameron Ling’s successor earlier this year.
As former teammate Gary Ablett, now leading Gold Coast, put it: “He could have been skipper two years ago”.
His preparation for the job dates back almost 10 years.
The 23-year-old gained valuable insight into how AFL clubs functioned even before he was drafted in 2006, with older brothers Troy and Adam selected in the 2002 draft.
Then there was the success that came so soon after his debut in the opening round of the 2007 season.
He’s now played 114 games, been a key member of three premiership teams and won the club’s best and fairest award.
With that sort of grooming, it’s understandable why he’s at ease ahead of Geelong’s season opener against Fremantle on March 31.
“It’s a week and a half until the season starts but I’ve been a part of this leadership group for three to four years now,” Selwood said on Thursday.
“I’ve got a great relationship with the young kids because I’m not that much older than them.
“But I’ve also been around the older guys long enough now.
“I’ve played five years of footy with them, I travelled with them early so I got to know them really well.”
Throw in the support of the club’s past two skippers Ling and Tom Harley, whom Selwood says he’ll look to for advice over the season, and it’s a fairly complete package.
The major question, especially when it comes to the Cats’ 2012 fortunes, is has the added responsibility changed Selwood?
“Not really. You might lose a little bit more sleep on a Saturday night if the boys are out having a drink but that’s about it.
“I’ve got a lot of good guys around me at the football club.”
The AFL came down hard on Selwood’s comment on Twitter about the match review panel’s take on Israel Folau’s charges.
He was keen to move on from the matter at the AFL’s season launch, instead focusing on some of the other challenges associated with the job.
“I’m looking forward to learning a lot in my time as captain, but also staying ahead of what’s going on.
“(The biggest surprise has been) just keeping an eye out on all the boys. As a part of the leadership group you usually look after a select few.
“Now you’re in a manger’s job where you’re asking the leaders to ask that they’re looking after the boys.”
