AFL Champion Joel Selwood Has Announced His Retirement

Joel Selwood announced his retirement after winning his fourth premiership last weekend.

Joel Selwood celebrates his fourth Premiership in last weekend's defeat over Sydney. Image: Scott Barbour

Joel Selwood has today announced his AFL retirement in what has been an incredible career for the champion.

He leaves the Cats after 355 games played for them, including Geelong's thumping defeat over Sydney by 81 points in this year's grand final last weekend.

Selwood is the only player to have won four flags at the Cats, is the club's record holder, and has played the most games as captain with 245 matches breaking Carlton's Stephen Kernahan's former record of 226.

Selwood made an impression since joining the competition after he was drafted by the Cats at pick 7 in the 2006 AFL draft. He would then go on to win the Rising Star and a Premiership within his first season.

Selwood's last-quarter goal was emotional for all football fans to speculate whether it would be his last AFL game, finishing his career with another premiership.

Selwood's courage, leadership, and selflessness make him one of the greatest players to have ever played AFL and this is why he is a role model to so many supporters.

His heartwarming act of running onto the MCG and carrying his former teammate and friend Gary Ablett Jr's child Levi brought tears to many fans.

Selwood would go on to give his match-worn boots to Archie, AFL Auskicker of the year post-game; it follows afterwards where he brought Geelong's waterboy Sammy Moorfoot onto the field to help celebrate with them.

Selwood will no doubt go into the conversation as one of the greatest footballers of all time; there is nothing for fans to not love about him.

Although Selwood's departure is genuinely devastating across the whole AFL, his journey and pathway throughout the competition have been a blessing.

Selwood will no doubt be missed playing AFL. However, he is only getting started in his career post-football.