Footy great opens up on his heartbreaking phone call with close friend Joel Selwood following the tragic death of his brother Adam
Footy great Xavier Ellis has opened up on the heartbreaking phone call that he had with Geelong great Joel Selwood over the weekend, following the tragic death of his brother Adam, aged 41.
The footballing community was rocked by the news of Adam's passing on Saturday, three months after his identical twin brother Troy sadly also died.
The Selwoods are one of the most celebrated and revered families in the sport, with Adam being one of four brothers, alongside Troy, Joel and Scott, to enjoy distinguished careers in footy's top flight.
Ellis, a close friend of the Selwood family, is one of many to have paid tribute to Adam.
On Wednesday morning, the former Hawthorn and West Coast star, 31, appeared on Perth 's Triple M's Breakfast Show with Katie Lamb, where he delivered an emotional speech, in which he paid his condolences to the Selwood family.
'Calling Joel over the weekend, just hearing his voice break. You know that "bulletproof" Joel Selwood, he's not,' Ellis said to Perth's Triple M Breakfast.
'Mental health doesn't discriminate. Targeting men and young men. It's a time now where [mental health charity] R U OK DAY, I think it's deeper than that.'
Ellis subsequently urged others to not only check on their mates but to keep pestering friends and make deeper inquiries into the wellbeing of those who might be struggling.
'It's so easy to deflect a question: "Are you OK?" It's time to grab a scalpel and really dissect the person you're asking.
'You'd rather be a persistent pain in the arse than a shallow arse who's just moved on and you've ticked the box.
'So if you have got someone you're concerned about, it is hard, but you've got to grab that life jacket and jump in the water with them because they're drowning inside.
'I guarantee there's someone in your friendship group who is in a way of struggle.
'This is targeting men but there are also ladies in this.
'But, as I've said, it's time to get the scalpel and really dive into this, take the deep dive with your friends, because I've just sat there yesterday and saw the Selwoods.
'And the devastation between those brothers who I call my closest friends, Bryce and Maree... It's tragic... It's a thing no one should have to live through.'
Tributes have since been pouring in for the West Coast great, with his club and several Eagles players paying a touching tribute to the former footy star ahead of their 28-point win against St Kilda this weekend.
The Eagles and St Kilda paused for a minute's silence ahead of the match, while players donned black armbands in memory of the former tagger.
Adam made 187 appearances for the West Coast during his distinguished career and notably played a role in the side's 2006 premiership victory.
Ellis also opened up on growing up around the Selwood family.
'Waking up on Saturday to some missed calls and learning about the mental health tragedy of a friend of mine, Adam Selwood,' Ellis said.
'Over my time in the media, the Selwood boys have been in here many times.
'I've done this media stuff for about a decade now and I've made it really clear the love and admiration I have for that family.
'I idolise them and have since I was the age of 12, Joel was my first ever captain as a 14-year-old.
'He was a close friend, someone I admire so deeply. Moving to Perth, I knew no one other than Joel's brother who was on the West Coast list, Scooter (Scott), who was living with Adam at the time.'
Ellis also revealed he had gone for a beer with Scott on Sunday night.
'They really helped me when I first arrived and Scooter, having a beer with him on Sunday night and seeing him and how empty that poor man is.
'(Parents) Bryce and Maree are family friends, we went to Ireland as kids, they're beautiful people.
'You think of those Selwood boys, when they play footy, they put a cape on those boys. They're tough, they're brave.
'Well, Bryce and Maree are that as parents every day and night. They're just wonderful people.'
Heartbreakingly, Adam was due to participate in the HBF Run For a Reason half Marathon on May 25 in support of zero2hero, a mental health charity.
Over $4,000 has since been donated to his zero2hero campaign since Saturday.
For confidential 24-hour support in Australia, call Lifeline on 13 11 14
Lifeline Crisis Text Service : 0477 13 11 14
Beyond Blue : 1300 224 636
13 Yarn (an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander crisis support line): 13 92 76
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