Justin Chadwick
Lapping up victory on his 20th birthday and in Indigenous round, West Coast youngster Malakai Champion couldn’t help but let his mind wander in remembrance of the late Adam Selwood.
The Eagles snapped their six-game losing run on Sunday, coming from nine points down early in the final quarter to post a 17-point win over GWS, 13.10 (88) to 10.11 (71).
Although Champion wasn’t able to kick the goal he so desperately craved to celebrate Indigenous Round, he finished with two goal assists among his 11 disposals.
“About three weeks ago the club told me I would be nominated as an NGA player,” he said.
“I cried, for me and for my mum. It’s a huge honour and I’m so excited. I got to train with Liam Ryan and Tyrell Dewar a little last year.”
The victory capped the perfect way to celebrate his birthday, but it also marked the one-year anniversary of the passing of Selwood, who died at the age of 41 just months after his twin brother Troy took his own life.
Adam Selwood, a premiership player at West Coast, handed over his No.37 jersey to Champion when the Indigenous forward arrived at the end of 2024.
“He presented my jumper to me, and we would always chat,” Champion said after Sunday’s win.
“I had his phone number, and we would always text, and I was pretty shocked when it happened.
“On Sunday, it was Seller’s one-year anniversary since he passed away.
“It’s on my birthday, so it’s a pretty memorable day, and I’m pretty sure some of boys had him in the back of their mind during the game.”
Champion joined the Eagles in 2024 as a Next Generation Academy pre-selection, and his run and pressure has proven to be a valuable asset.
Sunday’s win marked the first victory of Champion’s fledgling seven-game AFL career.
“It’s probably a bit of icing on the cake because it’s my birthday and Indigenous round,” Champion said.
“I’m just super grateful we put four quarters of effort in, and our main focus was starting off well in the first quarter, and we set ourselves up for the whole game.
“I feel so proud of these blokes. I know what we’re capable of, and we produced it.”
The next task for West Coast is a blockbuster MCG outing against Collingwood on Saturday night when Scott Pendlebury will set a new record for VFL/AFL games played when he lines up in match No.433.
“We’ve got a six-day break into an amazing game at the MCG next week against Collingwood,” Eagles coach Andrew McQualter said.
“Our young players will get to play in a game that I imagine will have 90,000 to 100,000 people there for Harley Reid’s 50th and Scott Pendlebury’s record-breaking game,” Eagles coach Andrew McQualter said.
“So a really special occasion and we can’t wait to play in it.”
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