Legendary journalist Mike Sheahan has heaped praise on Geelong captain Joel Selwood, calling him the best player of the decade.
Selwood led from the front as Geelong made it five wins in a row to start the season, collecting an equal career-high 43 disposals against St Kilda on Sunday.
“I don’t think Selwood’s ever got the credit he deserves for the way he plays, to me he’s Paul Kelly with finesse. He’s a brilliant player,” Sheahan told SEN Breakfast on Monday.
“I’m saying he’s the best player of the decade, and there’s seven seasons in this decade so far (2010-2017).
“I, like most people say really good player Selwood, but you find we’re seduced by the capabilities of (Lance) Franklin and others, but this bloke week in week out is the best player.
“They’re 15 points down and in trouble (yesterday against St Kilda), and he’s gone back in the hole, eyes on the footy and taken the mark, and not only done that, but gone back from 40 and kicked the goal.”
Not only is Selwood one of the best players this decade, but he's winning record is one of the best the game has ever seen.
The 28-year-old has won an amazing 77% of his career games, winning 180 from his 232 matches with the Cats since making his debut against the Western Bulldogs in round one, 2007.
Given his opinion, Sheahan somewhat surprisingly had Selwood at six in his pre-season top 50, but said if he had to select one player to win a game for him, the Geelong captain would get the call.
“I had him at six, there’s always blokes that are going to finish up ahead of him because of what they may do,” he said.
“I came to the realisation yesterday that this bloke does it 18 times a year.
“If I had to win a game of football in any conditions, anywhere I would pick him first.”