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AAP Sports News (Australia)
08-24-2010
AFL:Sick Selwood finally home

By Laine Clark

BRISBANE, Aug 24 AAP - A sickening clash that suddenly drew the curtain on his time
with the Brisbane Lions was bad enough, but what happened next really hurt Troy Selwood,
according to coach Michael Voss.

"He was pretty devastated that he couldn't sing the team song, that was his major thing
in the end," Voss said on Tuesday.

Instead of sharing a rare victory with teammates at Etihad Stadium on Sunday, Selwood
was hospitalised with rib cartilage damage caused by a collision with Essendon's Kyle
Hardingham - an injury that kept him bed-ridden until Tuesday.

Selwood is expected to make a full recovery but will miss Brisbane's finale against
Sydney on Saturday night at the Gabba.

"He is sore but that's what happens when you almost get split in half," Voss said.

"Thankfully it is not a fracture, we are expecting him back today."

As he waited for the midfielder to fly back into Brisbane, Voss spoke of how difficult
it was to pull the pin on Selwood's stint at the Lions.

A mad Fitzroy fan as a kid, Selwood made his AFL debut for the Lions in 2005 but battled
injury throughout his time at the club.

"This time of year is never that pleasant for a coach, and for players in that situation
- it's not the most enjoyable time," Voss said.

"We had a conversation last week, and I spoke to him about what his future held and
he was tossing up what he was going to do.

"The best way we thought for him to finish was play in the seniors - he had earned
that right anyway.

"But I thought it gave him the opportunity to finish the way he should.

"And he should be acknowledged for his time here and the worthwhile contributions he
has made to this football club.

"I knew it was the right thing, and I know he appreciated it - it just didn't end in
the fairytale that we hoped."

But it did end with Selwood's trademark bravery - typified by his horrific head clash
with Richmond's Alex Rance in round seven last year.

Voss hoped the axing did not mark the end of Selwood's AFL career.

"He has been an outstanding person for such a long time for our club - the boys love
him," Voss said of Selwood, whose brothers Adam, Joel and Scott also play AFL.

"He was quite positive about it (axing). He was looking at different things for where
he goes next - I am sure one of those options is continuing to play."

AAP lc/djw

KEYWORD: AFL LIONS SELWOOD

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