Troy Selwood, former Brisbane Lions AFL player and Geelong VFL captain, dies aged 40

Former Brisbane Lions player Troy Selwood has tragically passed away at the age of 40. He was the brother of Geelong's premiership-winning captain, Joel Selwood. The Australian Football League (AFL) released a statement from the Selwood family confirming Troy's passing on Tuesday.

The statement did not disclose the cause of Troy Selwood's death. The Selwood family expressed in their statement: "We are heartbroken to lose our son, brother, and father Troy this morning. There are no words to adequately convey our sadness about Troy." They added, "Troy was a cherished and much-loved member of our family, and he brought immense joy and light to all who knew him throughout his life."

The Selwood family also described Troy's character and accomplishments. "Troy was a brave, funny, deep-thinking man, who was full of love and compassion. He had a generous spirit and was always deeply concerned about others, and he strived to make a positive difference in the lives of others." The statement continued, "Troy achieved many great things in his life, from his early days as a student, to his AFL career, to his work recruiting young players and helping them achieve their AFL dreams, and more recently his passion and adventure at Geelong Grammar, Troy was able to influence and touch so many people’s lives."

AFL Chief Executive Andrew Dillon issued a statement on behalf of the league, extending condolences to "the entire Selwood family and the wider football community." Dillon stated, "Troy was a passionate advocate for the AFL’s talent pathway programs, both during his time as a club recruiter and more recently in his role at Geelong Grammar." He further added, "Troy always put the needs of the young players first and created an environment where they could be themselves. Troy always brought positivity, humour, and care to the recruiting and talent pathway process, and he will be deeply missed by all who had the pleasure of working with him."

It is understood that Selwood was drafted by the Brisbane Lions with pick No. 19 in the 2002 AFL Draft. He made his debut in Round 1 of the 2005 season and played 75 games for Brisbane, kicking 11 goals. After retiring from the Lions at the end of the 2010 season, Selwood returned to his home state of Victoria and played for Geelong in the VFL. He captained Geelong to a VFL premiership in 2012, defeating Port Melbourne in the grand final. Selwood retired from the VFL the following year.

The Selwood family concluded their statement by saying, "We are grateful for all of the support that Troy received throughout his life, and we know that he will be dearly missed by his many friends, teammates, and colleagues." They also added, "We know that many people will be in contact to share their stories of Troy, and we thank you for your love and support. The family asks for privacy and respect at this time as we process this shocking loss."