Collingwood Mourns Adam Selwood's Passing as Coach Craig McRae Breaks Down After Win Over Crows

• by Arlen Fitzpatrick
• 0 Comments

Shock and Sorrow Hit Collingwood After Win

Right after Collingwood scraped out a tough 10-point win against Adelaide on May 16, 2025, the team found itself gripped by something far heavier than victory or loss. Coach Craig McRae, visibly shaken in front of reporters, fought back tears as he shared that the club had just lost someone close to their family: Adam Selwood. The 40-year-old, a West Coast Eagles premiership hero, had passed away earlier that day in Western Australia, sending shockwaves through AFL circles and Collingwood’s tight-knit community.

Players weren’t told about the tragedy before the game. The Collingwood staff made the call to keep the news from their group so they could focus on the clash with Adelaide. “It was horrible, such sadness. We didn’t really know what to do,” McRae admitted, his voice wavering. You could see just how much it hurt him and the rest of the club—not just because Adam was an admired opponent, but because the Selwood family is right at the heart of Collingwood’s football program through Adam’s brother, Scott.

Scott Selwood at the Center of the Grief

Scott Selwood, known for being a driving force in the Magpies’ assistant coaching ranks, became the focus of McRae’s concern immediately. As soon as word came through, Scott rushed back to Perth to be with his family. “Job number one is being there for him,” McRae said, making it clear that footy takes a back seat in moments like these. The rest of the club has poured their support behind him, rallying with messages, hugs, and time to grieve together.

The Magpies’ reaction behind closed doors spoke volumes. McRae gathered the entire football department after the match—not to talk about tactics or match stats, but simply to acknowledge the gaping hole left by Adam’s passing. Some staff wiped away tears, while others just sat quietly, numb with the shock and loss. As McRae told the media, “There’s no book written on this stuff.” Handling high-stakes sport is one thing, but guiding a young group through personal loss is on another level.

In all the emotion, even the game felt less important. There was a controversial double goal awarded to the Bulldogs against Mason Redman and Laitham Vandermeer, and usually that sort of talking point would dominate headlines. But the *Adam Selwood* tragedy cut through all that noise, leaving footy fans and players alike feeling the fragility of the game and life outside it.

Adam Selwood wasn’t just known for what he did at West Coast—winning a flag, playing over 187 games, and being a steady presence through both good years and rebuilds. He also brought people together, on and off the field. And now, as Collingwood’s club rooms sit a bit quieter, the Magpies are learning to lean on each other in the most difficult way anyone could imagine.