Geelong great Joel Selwood has wowed the club’s newest player with a stunning gesture on the opening night of the AFL draft.
The Cats legend – who retired after Geelong’s 2022 premiership triumph – was on hand at Marvel Stadium when his club called out the name Connor O’Sullivan with Pick No.11.
Now, receiving your first AFL jumper from one of the most respected players of all time is obviously a daunting experience.
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But adding to those nerves was the number, and the crowd certainly made plenty of noise when they realised the jumper had Selwood’s famous No.14 on the back.
Selwood has a glittering AFL CV and is considered of the best leaders of his generation, if not of all time.
He is a four-time premiership player, a premiership captain, and a six-time All-Australian.
He also holds the record for most games as a captain.
O’Sullivan is from the Albury Tigers, played for the Murray Bushrangers in the Coates Talent League, and represented the successful Allies in the National Championships.
The 198cm defender is considered an elite endurance runner who is also good in the air.
He has been compared to gun Giants defender Sam Taylor.
Later in the night, however, vision emerged of O’Sullivan and Selwood talking, when O’Sullivan heard his friend’s name called out.
In hilarious scenes, he jumped in the air, looked Selwood in the eye, and then left the AFL great for dust.
And fans totally loved it.
“I love how he looked at them with a ‘can I go?’ The excitement for each other here tonight is so pure,” one fan said on social media.
Well known AFLW player Steph Chiocci also commented: “This is so pure.”
Another fan said: “He is going to fit in so well to the culture at the Cats. I love how happy he is for his mate. So good.”
Geelong recruiting manager Stephen Wells said O’Sullivan was a versatile player and would be a great addition to the club.
“We are really pleased to welcome Connor to the club, he is a versatile player with very high potential,” Wells said.
“He has had a remarkable 12 months for the Bushrangers and the Allies and his ability to play all areas of the ground is a highlight to his game.
“His aerial ability, composure, ability to intercept mark and his endurance at only 18 years of age is something we are really excited about, and we think Connor will be an excellent addition to the Geelong Football Club.”
Selwood played 355 games for the Cats.
O’Sullivan, indeed, has enormous shoes to fill as he looks to his first game next year.
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All the first-round draft selections
1. West Coast Eagles – Harley Reid (midfielder/forward, Bendigo Pioneers/Tongala)
2. North Melbourne – Colby McKercher (midfielder, Tasmania Devils/Launceston)
3. Gold Coast Suns – Jed Walter (key forward, Gold Coast Academy/Palm Beach Currumbin) – Matched North Melbourne’s bid using 26, 30 and 32, gaining 58 and 87
4. North Melbourne – Zane Duursma (medium forward, Gippsland Power/Foster)
5. Hawthorn – Nick Watson (small forward, Eastern Ranges/East Ringwood)
6. Western Bulldogs – Ryley Sanders (midfielder, Sandringham Dragons/North Launceston)
7. Melbourne – Caleb Windsor (wing, Eastern Ranges/Lysterfield)
8. Adelaide Crows – Daniel Curtin (key defender/midfielder, Claremont/West Coast) – Secured pick from GWS Giants
9. Gold Coast Suns – Ethan Read (ruck/midfielder, Gold Coast Suns Academy/Palm Beach Currumbin) – Matched Geelong’s bid using 34, 38 and 48, gaining 49
10. Essendon – Nate Caddy (medium forward/midfielder, Northern Knights/Yarrambat) – Secured pick from Geelong
11. Geelong – Connor O’Sullivan (key defender, Murray Bushrangers/Albury)
12. GWS Giants – Phoenix Gothard (small forward, Murray Bushrangers/Albury)
13. Melbourne – Koltyn Tholstrup (medium forward, Subiaco/Newtown Condingup)
14. Gold Coast Suns – Jake Rogers (midfielder, Gold Coast Suns Academy/Broadbeach) – Matched Sydney’s bid using 42, 47 and 49, gaining 65
15. Western Bulldogs – Jordan Croft (key forward, Calder Cannons/Maribyrnong Park) Matched Sydney’s bid using 44, 46 and 47, gaining 61 and 87
16. Sydney Swans – Will Green (ruck, Northern Knights/Northcote)
17. GWS Giants – James Leake (medium defender/forward, Tasmania Devils/Launceston)
18. St Kilda – Darcy Wilson (medium forward/midfielder, Murray Bushrangers/Wangaratta Rovers)
19. Hawthorn – Will McCabe (key defender, Central District/Tanunda) – Matched North Melbourne’s bid using 42 and 44, gaining 73
20. North Melbourne – Taylor Goad (ruck, South Adelaide/Willunga)
21. Adelaide Crows – Charlie Edwards (midfielder/medium defender, Sandringham Dragons/Sandhurst)
22. North Melbourne – Wil Dawson (key defender, Gippsland Power/Leongatha)
23. North Melbourne – Riley Hardeman (medium defender, Swan Districts/Caversham)
24. Sydney Swans – Caiden Cleary (midfielder, Sydney Swans Academy/Sydney University) – Matched Collingwood’s bid using 43 and 47, gaining 63
25. Collingwood – Harry DeMattia (midfielder/medium forward, Dandenong Stingrays/Edithvale-Aspendale)
26. Gold Coast Suns – Will Graham (medium defender/midfielder, Gold Coast Suns Academy/Palm Beach Currumbin) – Matched Adelaide’s bid using 47 and 51, gaining 69
27. Adelaide Crows – Oscar Ryan (general defender, Murray Bushrangers)
28. St Kilda – Lance Collard (small forward, Subiaco/North Beach)
29. Carlton – Ashton Moir (medium forward, Glenelg/Plympton)
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