JOEL Selwood says he will continue to captain Geelong for as long as the club wants him to.
The 30-year-old, who has skippered the Cats on 162 occasions, has been confirmed as leader for an eighth consecutive season at the club’s 2019 launch on Friday night.
Contracted until the end of 2021, if he was to maintain the position and avoid serious injury he would threaten Carlton great Stephen Kernahan’s AFL record of 226 matches as captain of one club.
However, Selwood says breaking that mark isn’t on his radar.
“I’ll do the job if I’m the right person for it,” he said,
“As I’ve said before a couple of times, I’ve put it up (for discussion) each year that I’ve done it, and that’s the way that is should be.
“We go through the same program every year since I’ve been here, and (football boss) Simon Lloyd can choose that his way now.
“I’ll do it for this year and see what happens in years to come.”
Patrick Dangerfield will continue as vice-captain with Mark Blicavs to share the role with the Brownlow medallist.
Harry Taylor, Mitch Duncan and Zach Tuohy also return from last year, while Tom Stewart has been elevated to the seven-man group.
Selwood says consistency among the leadership group is ideal.
“Tom Hawkins, Gaz (Gary Ablett), who’s been a leader at another club, and Scoot (Scott Selwood) who’s been vice-captain (at West Coast) and in the leadership group here are going to sit outside (the leadership group), but they’re going to lead the club as well as what the guys are behind me,” he said.
“It is nice to have that core group together, and guys pushing to get into it, too.”
Twitter: @tom_king79
