Selwood this season has won 35 free kicks for high tackles and 248 over his career.
However, whilst some are calling his tactics “outside the spirit of the game”, two champion midfielders have come out in support of Selwood.
Speaking to News Limited, Shane Crawford and Michael Voss have both said Selwood shouldn’t be faulted for pushing the boundaries to break tackles.
“Whenever you reach you expose yourself to being manipulated in the tackle. To me, if you’re in reaching mode there’s a flaw in your tackling to start with,” Voss said.
“I’ve coached against it where it’s been happening to my team and I put the onus back on the tackler and their ability to execute. If he was ducking his head that would be different, but all he’s doing is keeping his feet, dropping his legs and he’s got a fantastic tenchique in rolling his shoulder.
“I’m a little bit lost on that whole spirit of the game debate. I can understand people’s passion around it and their concerns about how it looks, but the spirit of the game is playing within the rules of the game.
“Selwood shouldn’t be penalised because he’s stronger than the tackler. If I was playing today and I could develop that technique, I’d be looking at it.”
Crawford agreed saying players needed to push the boundaries to win.
“I think if you can keep getting away with it then half his luck. It’s almost impossible to stop at times, but I don’t have an issue with it because you’ve got to push the rules and push the boundaries as far as you possibly can,” Crawford said.
“When Joel Selwood finishes his career we’re not going to think of him drawing all these free kicks. He’s a star and such a courageous and wonderful leader, but if you can draw free kicks and it wins you a Grand Final, you do anything you can.”
