Scott Selwood: After Brothers’ Deaths & Career Change

Few families have given as much to Australian football as the Selwoods, but behind the premierships and club champion awards, the past few years have brought a weight of personal loss that would test anyone. This article traces what happened to Scott Selwood after the deaths of two of his brothers, and why he chose to step away from the AFL coaching ranks in 2025.

Full Name: Scott Francis Selwood ·
Born: 27 March 1990 ·
AFL Career Span: 18 years (as player and coach) ·
Last AFL Role: Assistant coach, Collingwood (stepped down 2025) ·
Current Position: Sales Performance Coach at Marshall White ·
Family Context: Third of four Selwood brothers; two brothers deceased

Six key facts about Scott Selwood, drawn from verified sources:

What has happened to Scott Selwood?

Scott Selwood takes a break from AFL after personal tragedy

• In September 2025, Scott Selwood stepped down from his role as assistant coach at Collingwood, citing personal reasons (7News).
• The decision was linked to a “personally challenging year” that included the death of his brother Adam in May 2025.
• Collingwood’s official statement thanked Selwood for his contribution and confirmed he would take time away from the game in 2026.

Scott Selwood steps down as Collingwood assistant coach

• Selwood had initially returned to complete the 2025 season before opting to leave the game.
• The coaching change was part of Collingwood’s reshaping of its coaching panel for the 2026 season (AFL.com.au).
• His break was framed as time away from football rather than retirement.

The implication: Scott Selwood’s career in football, which spanned 18 years from debut to coaching, has paused at a moment of profound personal grief. Whether he returns depends on how he navigates the aftermath of a double family tragedy.

Why did the Selwood brothers pass away?

Troy Selwood’s death

• Troy Selwood, a former Brisbane Lions player, died in 2022 at age 38.
• The cause of death has not been publicly disclosed by the family.
• Troy was the twin brother of Adam Selwood, and the second eldest of the four Selwood brothers.

Adam Selwood’s death

• Adam Selwood, a West Coast Eagles premiership player, died in May 2025 at age 41.
• His death came months after the death of his twin brother Troy.
• The cause of death has not been publicly disclosed, and the family has requested privacy.

The pattern: Both deaths have been treated as private family matters, with no official causes released. This is consistent with the Selwood family’s preference for discretion, but it leaves the public with unanswered questions about what happened.

Where was Adam Selwood found?

Adam Selwood’s memorial service details

• Adam Selwood was found deceased at a location that has not been publicly detailed by authorities or the family.
• The AFL community held a memorial service to farewell him, with tributes from former teammates and clubs.

AFL greats gather to farewell Adam Selwood

• Former West Coast teammates, including premiership players, attended the service.
• Collingwood coach Craig McRae reportedly made a “brutal decision” to address the tragedy with his players (Yahoo News Australia).

Why this matters: The lack of public detail about Adam’s death has fueled speculation, but the family’s request for privacy has been largely respected by the media. For Scott, the grief of losing a second brother in three years is compounded by the public scrutiny that comes with being a well-known AFL figure.

Who is the youngest Selwood brother?

Scott Selwood is the third of four brothers

• Scott Selwood is the third eldest of four brothers, not the youngest (Wikipedia).
• The Selwood brothers, in order of age: Joel (born 1982), Troy and Adam (twins, born 1984), and Scott (born 1990).

The Selwood family tree

• All four brothers played AFL football at the highest level — a rare achievement.
• Joel Selwood is the most decorated, with four premierships at Geelong.
• Scott is the only surviving younger brother after the deaths of Troy and Adam.

The trade-off: Being the youngest surviving brother means Scott now carries a unique burden — the public expectation to continue the Selwood legacy, while privately grieving two siblings. His decision to step away from football suggests he is prioritising his own wellbeing over that expectation.

What is Scott Selwood doing now?

Scott Selwood’s new job at Marshall White

• Scott Selwood now works as a Sales Performance Coach at Marshall White, a real estate agency.
• The role involves coaching sales teams on performance and strategy — a natural fit for someone who spent 18 years in high-performance sport.

Scott Selwood’s career change

• He left the AFL coaching role at Collingwood to pursue this new path.
• The move represents a significant pivot from football to corporate coaching.

The implication: For Scott Selwood, the choice is clear — a new career in sales coaching, or a return to football when he’s ready. He has chosen the former, and that decision speaks volumes about where his priorities lie.

Timeline

• 2022: Troy Selwood passes away.
• May 2025: Adam Selwood passes away at age 41.
• September 2025: Scott Selwood steps down from Collingwood coaching role citing personal reasons.
• Late 2025: Scott Selwood starts new role at Marshall White.

Confirmed facts vs. what’s unclear

Confirmed facts

• Scott Selwood was an AFL player and coach for 18 years.
• He stepped down from Collingwood in September 2025.
• Two of his four brothers — Troy and Adam — have died.
• He now works as a Sales Performance Coach at Marshall White.

What’s unclear

• Exact cause of death for Troy and Adam Selwood.
• Scott’s current marital status.
• Whether he will return to AFL coaching in future.
• Whether Scott has children is not publicly confirmed.

Quotes from the AFL community

“Collingwood thanks Scott Selwood for his contribution and wishes him all the best as he takes time away from the game.”

— Collingwood FC official statement

“Scott Selwood steps away from football after a personally challenging year.”

— ABC News report

“The Selwood family has endured unimaginable loss.”

— Yahoo News Australia

Scott Selwood’s story is not just about football — it’s about how a person navigates grief while the public watches. His decision to step away from the game and start a new career at Marshall White reflects his resilience. For the AFL community, the loss of two Selwood brothers in three years is a reminder that behind the premierships and the club champion awards, there are real people carrying real pain.

Frequently asked questions

Related reading

• Sam Johnson — A biographical article about an Australian rugby figure who also faced personal challenges.
• Alan Kohler — An Australian biographical article with a “what happened” narrative similar to Scott Selwood’s story.