Joseph Reuben Sellwood (24 January 1911 – 18 October 2007) was a New Zealand born[1] Australian rules football player, playing 181 games (180 club, 1 representative) from 1930–1945.

Joe Sellwood
Personal information
Full name Joseph Reuben Selwood
Date of birth 24 January 1911
Place of birth Mataura, New Zealand
Date of death 18 October 2007(2007-10-18) (aged 96)
Place of death Belmont, Victoria
Original team(s) Wunghnu Football Club (GVFA)
Height 184 cm (6 ft 0 in)
Weight 86 kg (190 lb)
Playing career1
Years Club Games (Goals)
1930–1941; 1944–1945 Geelong 180 (97)
1 Playing statistics correct to the end of 1945.
Sources: AFL Tables, AustralianFootball.com

Family

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The son of Reuben and Jane Sellwood, Joseph Reuben Sellwood was born at Mataura, New Zealand on 24 January 1911.

Football

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Sellwood, recruited from Goulburn Valley Football Association club Wunghu, made his senior debut for Geelong in the 1930 VFL season and was a member of their 1937 premiership team.[2]

He represented Victoria against South Australia in 1937.[3]

Following his VFL career he coached West Geelong in the Geelong Football League.[4]

Prior to his death in 2007, Sellwood was recognised as the oldest VFL/AFL premiership player and was given honorary induction into the AFL 200 Club, because his career allegedly suffered significant interruption during World War II, preventing him from reaching 200 games.[5][6]

Death

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Sellwood died on 18 October 2007[2][7] at a nursing home in Belmont, Victoria. He was survived by his four daughters Lesley, Margaret, Joan and Judith, 18 grandchildren, 37 great-grandchildren, and four great-great grandchildren. Sellwood's interests included playing the piano accordion, keyboard, watching football (particularly the Cats) and being with his family. He was the last surviving member of the 1937 Geelong premiership team.[5]

Footnotes

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  1. ^ "Joe Sellwood (Geelong)". australianfootball.com. Retrieved 4 August 2014.
  2. ^ a b Anderson, Jon (20 October 2007). "Sellwood mourned". Herald Sun. Retrieved 20 October 2007.
  3. ^ "Remembered By His Pals". Sporting Globe. No. 2389. Victoria, Australia. 16 May 1945. p. 15 (Edition2). Retrieved 2 April 2024 – via National Library of Australia.
  4. ^ "League Must Not Ignore Country Football". Sporting Globe. No. 2525. Victoria, Australia. 31 August 1946. p. 6 (Edition1). Retrieved 2 April 2024 – via National Library of Australia.
  5. ^ a b Green, Brad (19 October 2007). "Cats bid farewell to Joe Sellwood". Geelong Advertiser. Retrieved 20 October 2007.
  6. ^ De Bolfo (2017).
  7. ^ "Oldest VFL/AFL premiership player dies". realfooty.com.au. 20 October 2007. Retrieved 20 October 2007.

References

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