GEELONG coach Chris Scott has lauded the influence of skipper Joel Selwood after flexing their muscles with a 23-point Easter Monday win over Hawthorn.
The former Bendigo Pioneer, who achieved AFL life membership on Monday, was instrumental in a pulsating 17.11 (113) to 13.12 (90) victory at the MCG that lifted the Cats to the top of the ladder after five rounds.
Pushed out of the Cats' preferred centre-square combination and onto a wing in a bid to improve the side's on-ball depth, Selwood was summoned in the third quarter after Brandon Parfitt was ruled out with a quadricep strain.
The 30-year-old responded superbly, gathering 12 of his 32 disposals and five of his eight clearances for the quarter as Geelong kicked away to a five-goal lead at three-quarter time.
"We've been trying to build that depth for a long time but we always reserve our right in the box to get Selwood back in the middle," coach Chris Scott said.
"We lost a player, good opposition, big occasion - 'Joel, we'll throw you on the ball, we know you won't let us down'. He certainly won't shy away from that.
"I thought he was great all over the ground in different roles."
Selwood was drafted to Geelong from the Pioneers with pick number seven in the 2006 national draft.
He was awarded life membership for playing 300 games, comprising 20 pre-season matches, one State of Origin game, two International matches, and 277 premiership games.
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