It's enough to make the St Therese's Primary School faithful cry - favourite son Joel Selwood in the grounds of St Monica's Primary School.
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Growing up, some of Selwood's most fierece under-12 footy battles were against St Monica's.
"I was even a little bit nervous coming here today,'' Selwood said with a chuckle.
"St Monica's were the enemy back in the juniors.
"Mum (Maree) was a teacher’s aide at St Monica's for the last six months that she and Dad lived in Bendigo, so that made me a little bit more comfortable."
The Geelong star was in "enemy territory" on Tuesday alongside Hawthorn great Robert Dipierdomenico to help launch the Cloud Copy Click Premiership Schools program.
With Joel's parents Bryce and Maree now residing in Geelong, Joel doesn't get back to Bendigo too often.
That hasn't stopped him taking a keen interest in Bendigo football.
Earlier this year he took time out to have lunch with recent AFL draftee Jye Caldwell.
"It was midway through the year and Jye had just done his hamstring,'' Selwood said.
"It was at a period of time that he had to pull out of the national (under-18) carnival because he just wan't going to be fit enough to play.
"I had the same history. I remember when I was 18, I was in tears ringing Leon Harris to tell him that I couldn't play at the national carnival because I needed (knee) surgery.
"I just reassured Jye that what lay ahead was exciting and to give him a shoulder to lean on if he needed it.
"I was hopeful that he was still going to be around for the Cats to pick (in the draft), but realistically it wasn't going to be the case."
This week Selwood has enjoyed having a young gun from his home club Sandhurst join the Cats for pre-season training.
"This week we've had Flynn Perez running around with us as one of three AFL Academy kids,'' Selwood said.
"He's a nice mover and a great size and from all reports he's going to be thereabouts over the next couple of years.
"It's great to know that the Bendigo footy pathway continues to produce good footballers."
Selwood, 30, is about to embark on his 13th season with the Cats.
He already has three premierships and 272 games under his belt and the fire is there to add a fourth flag.
"I feel good and I feel engergised for another year,'' Selwood said.
"If you don't have the drive then you have to start thinking whether it's still for you.
"We've picked up Luke (Dahlhaus) and Gary (Rohan) which will help out and we have to make sure it works.
"We have a really strong list and we probably need to work together a bit better. If we can pull it all together then we can be quite dangerous."
Arguably Bendigo’s most famous footy family, the majority of the Selwoods are now based in Geelong –much to Joel’s delight.
"The travel home from the MCG to Bendigo on a Friday night was getting a bit too much for Mum and Dad,’’ Joel said.
"It gets a bit of a worry when Mum's falling asleep in the passenger seat and Dad's driving home at the age of 60-plus.
"It's nice to have them in Geelong. I drive them home from the games myself. Dad loves to talk and Mum's still falling asleep.
"Dad always says I play well even when I provide some brutal feedback about how I thought I've played.
"We have Troy in Geelong as well and he has a couple of kids now and Scoots (Scott) is fit and healthy and, hopefully, he stays that way."
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