Captain Kirk - where does he stand?

[liz]

Skilton and Kelly are - rightly - revered as legends of the Swans, players who inspired their team mates to lift a notch around them.

But where does Brett Kirk now fit into that 'heart and soul' standing at the club. I never had the privilege of seeing Skilton play, but 3 Charlies says something about the player he was. Kelly had an explosive pace, was an exceptional mark for his size and kicked goals - all things you'd never say about Kirk. Indeed, apart from his handballing, there is almost nothing about Kirky's skills that mark him out as an outstanding player.

Yet week after week, he gets the job done. Even while the Swans have been dreadful this year, no 31 has been playing his guts out, noticeably better than pretty much every other player out there in final terms when the exhaustion has set in. He just never stops.

Does he deserve to be spoken about as a leader on the ground in the same breath as Skilton and Kelly?

[swansrule100]

Comparing the two ive seen play, id have kelly slighty ahead in terms of leadership, i feel he was more likely to do the inspirational bit of play to inspire the side like bust a pack open or kick a goal, he had better skills than kirk and was a better player than kirk is so that helps.

But kirk just doesnt stop and is all guts so cant be too far behind i wouldnt think, I will always remember kirk smacking into cousins i think it was, late in the 05 grand final without any concern for himself, then he got cramp.

Be good to have both at their peak in the one side for their heart.

[stellation]

Is his lustre diminished by being one of three captains?

[hammo]

I honestly can't split Kelly and Kirk for their inspirational play these days.

Kelly obviously had more natural footballing ability going for him but Kirk lacks absolutely nothing on Kelly in terms of the tough close-in work. He never ceases to amaze.

[giant]

His second half in the GF last year put Kirk in elite company for mine. And he's had another fantastic year this season - leading our F&B I suspect?

Too tuff to pick between Kirk & Kell, but if forced to I still hold a torch for PK (who I saw at the ground today btw - no doubt here for Magic's celebrations).

[Red]

Given what's happened to Hall, and to a lesser extent Leo, I just wish they'd dispense with the 3-captain thing & make Kirk the outright captain. I think it'd be a fitting reward for the team's natural leader.

[swantastic]

Tuff call but on the two i have seen play i reckon their even,both PK and BK are and have been super players for our club.If i had too choose between the two of them to inspire the team i would pick Kirky(just) he is just like the energizer bunny he just go's and go's.If i had to choose on playing ability i would pick Paul for sure.

[Swansinger]

Given what's happened to Hall, and to a lesser extent Leo, I just wish they'd dispense with the 3-captain thing & make Kirk the outright captain. I think it'd be a fitting reward for the team's natural leader.

Here , here ! Never changed my belief that this man should have been captain , outright.

[Xie Shan]

Well, he's been by far the best of the three captains this year in both leadership and form. Leo tries his guts out and Hall at his best can still be inspirational, but neither have matched Kirk for consistency this year. As I was one who would have preferred to have seen just the one captain appointed, perhaps this says something about the 3 captains policy, though I have to admit I did favour Goodes as captain at one stage. I think Kelly was clearly the more influential captain and player, I didn't follow the swans for all of his career but even in his later years, he still seemed to have this presence on the field, but you have to hand it to Kirky for getting to where he has, especially as he was a late bloomer. I think it is more his ability to get the most out of himself that manages to inspire, it serves as a good example for others who do have more natural talent to try and do the same (I know some of you will immediately think of Nick Davis but I was thinking more generally)

[No 14]

I was fortunate to watch Skilton week in week out. It was an inspiration when the club struggled year after year. Like Kirk and Kelly the courage and ground skills were a joy - I still see have visions of Skilton picking the ball up at full pace one handed and stab passing. I would not split them - all champions - one comment about Skilts though was he did it when grounds were sometimes cow paddocks. The saddest moment of being a swans supporter back in the 60s and 70s was not seeing skilts enjoy any September success. We all felt it. Could you image Hird or Buckley ending a career without a single September victory. I love driving past the old ground - always will (aghh I'm getting emotional - sorry)

To Kirk - everytime I see what you do, you remind me of Kelly and Skilton.

[SimonH]

Like others have said, Kelly was more able to take your breath away with an individual piece of brilliance, but Kirk is his equal for his ability to inspire the whole team.

On paper (not so fast, not naturally double-sided, unpenetrating and loopy kick) there is absolutely nothing that would persuade any recruiting manager to call this guy's name on draft day. And yet he's somehow become one of the most effective midfielders in the whole league.

[Matt79]

I think this quote by Micky O this afternoon says a lot about Kirky and his leadership...

"But it was just one of those things where at every stoppage I could hear Kirky (Brett Kirk) yelling out, `for Mago, for Mago' and with five minutes to go I started getting a bit emotional and choking up and the crowd from behind me at the goal square."

http://www.smh.com.au/news/Sport/OLoughlin-emotional-in-record-AFL-match/2007/07/08/1183833336145.html

Kirk is a legend!

[Bloody Hell]

I think it would be fair to say that if the three of them were to do a lap of honour in the red and white - Skilton and Kelly would be "chaired" around the ground...by Kirk, with one champion on each shoulder.

He loves the club more than any other...living or dead. You can see it in the way he plays.

[Flossie]

I think Brett Kirk is an inspiration as a man and as a leader of the Swans. When you watch him playing he just never stops or gives up. When we beat Freo yesterday it was great to see the huge smile on his face and punching his arms in the air. As much as I admire Barry Hall and Leo Barry, I think Kirky should have been made outright captain of the Swans.

[ScottH]

Skilton - Extreme Skill, Big Heart, 3 Charlies says it all.
Kelly - Big Heart, good Skill, lead by example, 1 Charlie.
Kirk - Huge Heart, average Skill, leads by example and by word. Delisted, came back ten fold.