I REALISE not everyone will be as enthusiastic as my family about the Grand Final result this year, after all, not everyone is a Cats fan.
However, I cannot help but feel that any reasonable observer of the Geelong club, would fail to note how good Joel Selwood is.
For those disinterested in football, he was captain of Geelong for 10 years, the longest serving in VFL/AFL history. He played 355 games and played in 40 finals matches.
For 16 years he faithfully served the club and Geelong fans. It’s true, he was an overperformer right from the start in 2007, but he developed into a superstar, not just because of his dedication and athletic skills, but because he was a team player. It was not all about Joel.
Selwood’s coach Chris Scott said: “The thing that struck me about Joel was his ability to care for others and prioritise others.” Perfectly said.
When you watch Selwood play, he was always looking to set up his mates to succeed. In a competitive environment such as AFL football, this is all the more amazing. I am challenged by this in the competitive and complex environment of politics.
How different would our workplaces, community groups, sporting clubs and organisations be if we operated with that character?
Unfortunately, modern society drives us to conspire for our own self-interest, and social media is simply an instrument that enables it. But look at the mental health issues that now abound as a result of it being ‘all about me’?
We can ambitiously attempt to be the best in whatever field we aspire to, and put all our effort and energy into developing our knowledge, skills and connections, but what sets anyone apart as a superstar in my view, are characteristics of caring and prioritising others.
In my view Selwood is a superstar for these reasons as much as his playing prowess. It simply sounds like a choice, but I think it requires honest self-reflection, and character development to truly put others first.
Congratulations Joel on a stellar career.
