Geelong Cats water boy relishes 2022 Grand Final win over the Sydney Swans in heart-warming scenes
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Longtime Geelong waterboy Sam Moorfoot was lifted over the fence by skipper Joel Selwood to celebrate with the team at the MCG in heartwarming scenes.
The Cats took as much credit for their grace in the win as they did for their 81-point thrashing over the Swans in the grand final on Saturday afternoon.
Players lingered on the sacred MCG grass for a while, soaking up the atmosphere after the final siren, before Selwood spotted an ecstatic Moorfoot on the border fence.
Selwood, who describes the waterboy as his “best friend,” insisted that Moorfoot join in the celebrations, dragging him over the fence onto the field with the help of teammate Jeremy Cameron.
The 29-year-old, who has Down syndrome, was then presented with the medal from Cameron; eliciting one of the biggest smiles you will ever see on a football field.
Joel Selwood (left) and Sam Moorfoot (right) hug after Cats big overall win
Moorfoot gleefully lifted his medal to the fellow Cats fans who watched from the fence, much to the delight of Geelong players and supporters; who are all well aware of the big role he plays in keeping the morale of the team high.
He has been involved with the club since 2015, originally as a volunteer at the bistro at Kardinia Park (now GMHBA Stadium).
Now the club’s waterboy, he can often be seen around the team on weekdays and match days. Moorfoot is an iconic figure and a beloved member of the Cats family.
The overjoyed Cats fanatic even made an appearance on Channel 7’s post-match coverage, with commentators Hamish McLachlan and Daisy Pearce interviewing Moorfoot in the dressing rooms.
“I’m a training assistant and a waterboy, and I’m very proud of my job,” he said when asked what his role was.
Despite having the arm of Cats defender Sam De Konig around him, there were no surprises in guessing his answer to who his favorite player was.
“Joel Selwood, 100 percent… Joel is actually my best friend. He’s a legend and he’s simply the best,” Moorfoot told Channel 7 after the match.
‘The best day of my life.’
Sam Moorfoot was thrilled and even showed off to the crowd when Cats star Jeremy Cameron hung his Premiership medal around his neck
Moorfoot played in his own grand final earlier this year, but his Geelong Dragons sadly succumbed to the Kananook Bulls in the Football Integration Development Association’s big dance.
At the time, Selwood talked about how close his bond to Moorfoot was.
“We share a very special friendship and I consider him family. He has my back and I have his,” he told The Age in August.
Joel Selwood (left) and Sam Moorfoot (right) celebrate on the pitch after Geelong’s 81-point grand final win
Selwood could barely contain his emotion after the Cats won the Grand Final
Wearing Jeremy Cameron’s AFL Premiership Medal will no doubt have numbed the pain of losing his own grand final.
Fans took to social media in droves to lavish praise on Selwood, the AFL’s Disability Inclusion Ambassador – and shared their joy at watching the heartwarming scenes.
Chief among these was MP Bill Shorten, currently the Minister for National Disability Insurance (NDIS).
Joel Selwood made many dreams come true yesterday. This could be the sweetest,” he wrote on Twitter.
It wasn’t Selwood’s only act that caused social media to collapse.
He led his side through the banner prior to the game with his former teammate Gary Ablett Jr.’s son Levi.
Three-year-old Levi was diagnosed in 2020 with a rare degenerative disease that left him with less resistance to fight disease naturally compared to healthier children.
Levi was all smiles and happily waved his arms as Selwood carried him through the banner, a touching nod to one of the club’s favorite sons.
Joel Selwood gears up to lead Geelong through the banner pre-game, with Levi Ablett – the son of club great Gary Ablett Junior
Selwood then handed Levi back to Ablett, who won two flags with Geelong in his sensational 357-game career.
After the match, the respected skipper not only handed over his large end cap, as all players do to the little Auskickers who give them their medals, but also his boots worn by the game.
An excited Archie Stockdale, who won the AFL’s Auskicker of the Year award at the Brownlow Medal, had promised a visit from Selwood — and the cat didn’t disappoint.
In emotional scenes atop the presentation stage, Selwood told the delighted youngster “I told you I was coming to you.”
Joel Selwood gave his football boots to Archie Stockdale, the AFL’s Auskicker of the Year, after the game.
He then passed on his white boots and pointed to the camera for the couple to take a picture together – the memory of his life for little Archie.
Selwood showed more care and consideration for those on the periphery than getting caught up in all the emotion and hype of an AFL grand final.
What grace and humility in victory.