Joel, Adam, and Scott Selwood’s touching tribute to brother, former Brisbane Lion Troy Selwood

AFL superstar Joel Selwood fought back tears at older brother Troy’s funeral today saying “we can’t imagine your pain”.

Former Brisbane player Troy Selwood died suddenly last week in Victoria.

Troy’s three surviving brothers, Joel, Scott, and twin Adam, gave a heartbreaking eulogy at GMHBA Stadium in front of family, friends, rormer teammates and a host of AFL identities.

“We can’t imagine your pain and we won’t try to,” Joel said, hinting at his late brother’s mental health battles.

“Hey brother, just a quick one… I just want you to know how much you are loved and I want to thank you for everything.

“Thanks for the support and the guidance over the years.

“I am sorry you had to struggle so hard, thanks for fighting as long as you did.

“I hope you’re in a good spot now. Love you brother, speak soon.”

Joel said his older brother “was dealt some pretty tough cards over his lifetime.”

“Some he found a way to deal with, but sadly there were others, no matter how hard he tried, he could never fully control - and he did try,” Joel said.

“He tried so hard. He put up a hell of a fight for mum and dad, for his kids, for his brothers, for his friends and for others that are fighting the same fight, just as he was.

“He fought for all of us. He wanted to keep fighting, as he always did in life, but in the end he simply couldn’t lift his arms to throw another punch back.

“He’ll be missed by so many.”

Twin brother Adam said Troy was a “built-in mate”.

“Having an identical twin is both a rare privilege and wonderfully complex,” West Coast premiership player Adam said .

“A twin is more than a sibling, they are a constant presence, a built-in best mate and someone who understands you in a way that no-one ever could.

“Troy wasn’t just my brother; he was my mirror, my fiercest competitor, my greatest ally and the one person that knew what I was always thinking.

“Losing him has left a massive hole in my life.

“But in time, I know it will be filled with a different presence that will be just as special to me as I continue to move through life as his twin brother.”

The brothers recalled a childhood well spent in Bendigo, where backyard sporting battles were a major part of family life for a quartet who all went on to play football at the top level.

“Every game we played in our backyard was for sheep stations,” Adam said.

“If blood wasn’t spilt, it wasn’t played hard enough … Troy and I were relentless competitors.

“Rest easy my beautiful brother, I love you so much, I am so proud of you.

“I will carry you with me always.”

Youngest brother Scott, 34, revealed what he would tell Troy when his brother was having a hard time.

“You’ve got this Scooty, you’re going to be great,” he said.

Scott recalled Troy’s love of dim sims as a cheat meal, and the time his older brother almost started a fire when he fell asleep while steaming a batch.

Troy never played in the same AFL team with his brothers like Adam and Scott did at West Coast and Joel and Scott did at Geelong, but he did play for the Cats in the VFL.

He played 75 games for Brisbane between 2005 and 2010.

He then captained Geelong’s VFL team to the 2012 premiership, before retiring in 2013, along with spending more than a decade in the Cats’ AFL football department.

Troy’s most notable role at Geelong between 2010-21 was in talent identification, before he had a brief stint at Collingwood.

He was also a players’ union delegate. AFL Players Association chief Paul Marsh hailed him as “someone who contributed immensely to the industry”, while AFL chief executive Andrew Dillon called him “an incredible advocate for AFL talent pathways programs”.

Troy most recently worked as head of football and sports performance at Geelong Grammar.

The heartbreaking service included a poem and prayer read by Troy’s parents, Maree and Bryce.

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