Terry, Neale, Anthony and Chris Daniher played a combined 752 VFL/AFL games - 42 more than the next set of brothers - Simon and Justin Madden.

Considering the average length of an AFL player's career is about 30 games, the prospect of another family having a set of brothers play a combined 753 matches seemed highly unlikely.

Enter the Selwood boys from Bendigo.

When Joel leads Geelong into battle against Port Adelaide at Adelaide Oval on Thursday night, the Selwoods will break the Daniher record for most games played by a set of brothers.

Joel's 322nd game added to Adam's 187 matches with West Coast, Troy's 75 games with the Brisbane Lions and Scott's 169 with the Eagles and Cats gives the Selwoods a remarkable 753 games at the highest level.

Their parents Bryce and Maree couldn't be prouder.

"To have our four boys reach the pinnacle of their sport, we're so proud,'' Bryce said.

"A lot of luck has come our way, but also a lot of hard work and determination has gone into it as well."

The journey started when Adam made his debut for the Eagles in round 19 of the 2003 season and it continues midway through 2021 with Joel still playing high-quality football with the Cats.

"Looking back on it now, I sometimes wonder how we did it,'' Maree said.

"I remember one weekend one of the boys played at Etihad Stadium on a Saturday afternoon, then we caught a tram to the MCG to watch one of the boys play Saturday night and then the next day we were back watching another game in Melbourne.

"Back when Adam started at West Coast we'd go across to Perth for a weekend then come back...it was a whirlwind at times and it's hard to believe how we did it sometimes.

"Our work in Bendigo at the time was wonderful to give us time off. I worked for Bendigo Bank and Bryce worked for Ashman's Menswear and both being Bendigo companies they were proud of what the boys were doing.

"We'd get stopped by people in the street saying they'd watched the boys at the weekend and they'd congratulate us. It was wonderful.

"The boys still talk now about how good it was growing up in Bendigo."

The Selwood boys followed the same stepping stones - St Therese's, Sandhurst and Bendigo Pioneers - to the AFL.

Drafted by the Brisbane Lions in 2002, Troy was unlucky not to play more games at AFL level.

Adam's durability was one of the features of his premiership-winning career with the Eagles.

Joel's outstanding career will earn him a spot in the AFL Hall of Fame, while Scott had his career with the Eagles and then Cats shortened by a serious ankle injury.

"Troy went to Brisbane when they were such a powerful team,'' Maree said.

"He was named emergency seven times and then he got a back injury which put him out for 12 months.

"Joel was the boy from Bendigo with a dicky knee, but he's done alright for himself to get to 321 games and then 322 on Thursday night.

"Scott had a bad ankle injury, but he came back and played some more games.

"Adam had a wonderful run with West Coast where he didn't get injured and played a lot of games in a row.

"The bonus for us was all the additional games as well. Joel played for Victoria and there were the international series games we got to watch as well.

"We had a wonderful time watching those games."

Read more: Joel Selwood's journey to 300 games

Watching your children carve out AFL careers is not always a bed of roses.

Bryce and Maree have sat in the stands as opposition fans yell abuse about their boys.

"You have to grow a thick skin as soon as you can,'' Maree said.

"There's some fans that don't like the way the Selwoods play. Joel will get booed and called names and we hear all that.

"A couple of weeks ago at Marvel Stadium that happened and the girl sitting next to me asked if I was going to just sit there and take it?

"I said 'yes, I am, because if I say something I'll get it back twice as bad.'

"You just stay quiet and hope their football shuts them up. It hurts at times, but you've just got to grow that thick skin.

"We're the lucky ones because Adam, Troy, Joel or Scott are in our team."

Just watching each son play at AFL level was a highlight for Bryce and Maree.

Watching four premierships from seven grand finals was the icing on the cake.

Read more: Adam Selwood reflects on his AFL career

Adam was part of the Eagles' 2006 premiership team, while Joel has three flags to his name with the Cats in 2007, 2009 and 2011.

"The excitement after the premierships is what you remember,'' Bryce said.

"The West Coast win was so close you were on a knife's edge.

"Geelong's first win in 2007 was such a relief for the club and the city. They won that game so convincingly that we could sit back and relax and enjoy the game."

Maree said the 2007 premiership win was a particularly proud moment for Joel, who was in his first season.

"When Joel was a boy all he wanted to do was either play in the AFL or represent Australia at the Olympics,'' Maree said.

"To play in the AFL and win a grand final, that's every boy's dream.

"He's been extremely lucky to play in three premierships."

While Joel is still pulling on the boots, Adam remains in Perth where he works with the Eagles.

Scott is a development coach with Collingwood and he's about to be joined at the Pies by Troy, who has accepted a job in the club's recruiting and list management department.

"I'm almost at the stage now where I'm saying "Go Pies",'' Bryce said with a chuckle.

With Joel's sparkling career to come to a close in the next few years, Bryce and Maree will have the opportunity to put their feet up at weekends and relax.

Right? Wrong.

The cycle is starting again with their grandchildren.

"Tommy (Troy's son) has started Auskick,'' Maree said excitedly.

"Bryce will probably play some more lawn bowls and I'm hopeful these grandkids will keep coming along and I'll keep babysitting them.

"We've been very lucky to have such a great journey."

Read more: Bendigo Addy Footy HQ

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