Our next captain?

[Missing Dog]

Re: Our next captain?

Which way is the wind blowing, that's where I'm going. Change of mind due to the bad press on Cooney.

Higgins.

Last year I picked Higgins for captain, but 2010 was a shocker for him with injury and loss of form. So, should that therefore rule him out. Definately not!! Well, not if he is going to come back to form.

No other player has Higgins' charisma.

1. Communicator. Just watch him at practice, he likes barking out instructions, directions and support. Talks well to the press and in forums. Does not slur speech or talk in profanities. You feel confident re him speaking on the team's behalf.
2. Exemplary character. Trustworthy to lead others, responsible. Lives his life with honestly and integrity. Reliable.
3. Enthusiastic about the team and wants to be leader. Shows passion and dedication. A source of inspiration, a motivator. Part of the team.
4. Inspirational. When he plays well he looks like Mr Smooth himself. But this has been lacking due to injury. Looks like a winner. Holds a good posture. Sets a great example.
5. Logical. Looks intelligent.
6. Confident as a person and as a leader. He is a pretty boy and he knows it. Exudes self-confidence. People are proud to be associated with him. Holds head up. Looks you in the eye.
7. Disciplined. Orderly and purposeful. Keeps temper. Has a consistent mood.
8. Committed to excellence. Don't know.
9. Tolerant of ambiguity. Don't know.
10. Focused towards team goals. Is he?
11. Direction. Does he give the team voice and direction. Strives towards excellence. Set an example. He can make changes on the field without referring to the coach.
12. Appears to be cool headed. Is able to discipline teammates when necessary.
13. Longevity and fitness. Will last out at least the season. Not prone to injury. Not too aged. Hopefully.
14. Has a stake in the outcomes.
15. Encourages Teammates. Deals out praise and encouragement when it is needed to lift the performance and morale of teammates.
16. Organises and controls teammates by giving them stirring speeches in huddles or making appropriate field changes during play.
17. Is Proactive and timely in making changes, giving encouragement or criticism and does not wait for coach to tell him when or what to say.
18. Courageous. Does not shirk the issue in play or questions from the media.

Other than Higgins, Lake is sounding better. I remember an after-match function in WA that he attended where he told some supporters off for not wearing the club colours. I thought that was quite good.

Boyd is not skilled enough for my liking, can be inspirational but does too many stuff-ups. Cross doesn't seem confident enough but can be inspirational. Gia doesn't seem inspirational and is too inconsistent.

I guess we should wait until the end of January and see which way the wind is blowing then.

Great post well thought out nearly swayed me but I still think Cooney is the man as for number 8 I don't think he has a problem with commitment i think he is one of the more commited in the team after all he has gone through he still holds his head high and has a crack

[jeemak]

Re: Our next captain?

Good H&A player who does nothing in finals IMO.

Apart from helping pull the team together during this years final series when we were done and dusted against the Swans.

[LostDoggy]

Re: Our next captain?

With out Knowing them from within I don't think we have a real standout. If i had to choose i would pick Cross for a few years untill one of the younger players is ready for the job

[chef]

Re: Our next captain?

I would have thought that if a player was breaking set rules the coach should be addressing it.

My point was that some people will focus on a certain players short comings in term of not being right for a captain, but then suggest a different player who also has short comings in another area that they choose to ignore. None of our players are perfect in every area.

[Mantis]

Re: Our next captain?

Other than Higgins, Lake is sounding better. I remember an after-match function in WA that he attended where he told some supporters off for not wearing the club colours. I thought that was quite good.

Thanks for starting my day off with a laugh JC... Funny stuff.

[LostDoggy]

Re: Our next captain?

I agree that Matthew Boyd looks a standout given his determination and ball getting ability. The inconsistency of Giansircusa in particular in big games should automatically rule him out of contention. I like Lantern's reference to Callan Ward as a future leader to follow Boyd as his aggression at the ball appeals as a future leader of the club.

I maintain this is the key.

Boyd and/or Gia to captain with Ward as vice and take over captaincy in 2-3 years.

I can see a signature change coming on...

[Mofra]

Re: Our next captain?

I maintain this is the key.

Boyd and/or Gia to captain with Ward as vice and take over captaincy in 2-3 years.

I can see a signature change coming on...

With Ward's unflattering nickname around the club I dare say even being part of the leadership group next year would be a surprise.

If our next captain serves for 3-4 years there is every chance Wallis will overtake all our young kids given the glowing reports of his leadership potential - that would be a heck of a story as well, a father/son combo both having served as captain. Apart from Tim & Jobe Watson I can't think of anyone else.

[Cyberdoggie]

Re: Our next captain?

13. Longevity and fitness. Will last out at least the season. Not prone to injury. Not too aged. Hopefully.
18. Courageous. Does not shirk the issue in play or questions from the media.

Higgo has been injured more than he's played i think.
Let's see, there has been the broken arm incident which ruled him out for a season, the rolled ankles, the thyroid problem.
Honestly i don't think higgo has had a un-interupted pre-season and season ever.
I don't think we've seen him at his fittest or strongest either because of this.

Courageous? Nothing wrong with his media qualities but on the field he's not one to lay a tackle or throw himself into a pack in my opinion.

[Twodogs]

Re: Our next captain?

Wallis will overtake all our young kids given the glowing reports of his leadership potential - that would be a heck of a story as well, a father/son combo both having served as captain. Apart from Tim & Jobe Watson I can't think of anyone else.

Harvey Stevens and his dad (Arthur?) both captained Footscray.

[Mofra]

Re: Our next captain?

Harvey Stevens and his dad (Arthur?) both captained Footscray.

Cheers, I trust it's been quite a while between drinks for us in that regard then!

[Twodogs]

Re: Our next captain?

Cheers, I trust it's been quite a while between drinks for us in that regard then!

No worries. I'm positive that Harvey and his dad were the only F/S duo to have captained a VFL/AFL team up until Jobe emulated his dad.

The other potentials I can think of are Ken and Dustin Fletcher-Given that Dustin has played for 45 years, surely he has lead the team at least once?

[Greystache]

Re: Our next captain?

No worries. I'm positive that Harvey and his dad were the only F/S duo to have captained a VFL/AFL team up until Jobe emulated his dad.

The other potentials I can think of are Ken and Dustin Fletcher-Given that Dustin has played for 45 years, surely he has lead the team at least once?

He may have but I'd be surprised, he's Essendon's version of our own Brian Lake- absolute gun player, but shall we say, doesn't overthink the game. More a lead by example type those two.

[Maddog37]

Re: Our next captain?

With Ward's unflattering nickname around the club I dare say even being part of the leadership group next year would be a surprise.

If our next captain serves for 3-4 years there is every chance Wallis will overtake all our young kids given the glowing reports of his leadership potential - that would be a heck of a story as well, a father/son combo both having served as captain. Apart from Tim & Jobe Watson I can't think of anyone else.

Which is?

[Jasper]

Re: Our next captain?

No worries. I'm positive that Harvey and his dad were the only F/S duo to have captained a VFL/AFL team up until Jobe emulated his dad.

The other potentials I can think of are Ken and Dustin Fletcher-Given that Dustin has played for 45 years, surely he has lead the team at least once?

Charlie Pannam sr/Alby Pannam both captained The Filth aka Collingwood

[The Pie Man]

Re: Our next captain?

Until I see a difference, and I would need to, based on what I have seen I don't think he should be in the mix for 2011 when we have better candidates.

Anyone on Twitter and follow Cooney? I concede forming a view based on a social network of this sort is probably not wise, though he really doesn't scream captain material on it.

Funny and entertaining, but one tweet yesterday about the Aussies being $@&ed (while essentially the truth) kinda sealed it for me.

I'd be really surprised if they took that path