List changes and trade bait

[Jewels]

It seems to me that we have two pretty fine captains at the moment and that onfield and off-field leadership is not an issue. If it gets to the point that one of them feels like stepping away from the captaincy, we are lucky to have a few candidates to step up. Nick Smith is one name not yet mentioned (I think) who is in the leadership group and seems much respected within the club. However, both Macca and Jack are still within their footballing prime and don't appear to be weighed down with the pressures of captaincy. Macca, in particular, seems to have really improved as a footballer since he became a captain and has been great in big games towards the end of each year when we've most needed players to step up. I'm happy to enjoy the captains we currently have and let the young leaders on the list grow into their roles.

Hear, hear.

[Conor_Dillon]

It seems to me that we have two pretty fine captains at the moment and that onfield and off-field leadership is not an issue. If it gets to the point that one of them feels like stepping away from the captaincy, we are lucky to have a few candidates to step up. Nick Smith is one name not yet mentioned (I think) who is in the leadership group and seems much respected within the club. However, both Macca and Jack are still within their footballing prime and don't appear to be weighed down with the pressures of captaincy. Macca, in particular, seems to have really improved as a footballer since he became a captain and has been great in big games towards the end of each year when we've most needed players to step up. I'm happy to enjoy the captains we currently have and let the young leaders on the list grow into their roles.

I think our captains generally have a tendency to step aside sooner rather than later, however I don't dispute that both guys are doing an absolutely outstanding job. The fact that they are both Sydney born and bred is fantastic as well.

Hopefully our next two Sydney born and bred co-captains are Heeney and Mills

[Meg]

Hear, hear.

+2

[Ludwig]

Macca really seems to enjoy being captain. He really takes it seriously.

More important than the captaincy per se is the breadth of the on-field leadership group. It seems like every player, even the younger ones, are alert and aware of the team structure and yelling out instructions when necessary. The top clubs (Hawthorn, Geelong) all seem to have this.

I don't know if we specifically look for leaders in the draft, but we seem to get so many. Zak Jones and Isaac Heeney were both captains of their state teams. Parker may have been a team captain as well (maybe someone knows this). Although reserved in his media stints, Jake Lloyd is already quite vocal on field; he was the midfield leader when playing in the reserves. Tom Mitchell also has the makings of a captain.

[Conor_Dillon]

Yeh Jakey is extremely vocal out there...every stoppage he is involved in he is waving his arms around and providing direction...it's great to see.

[CureTheSane]

Whether Buddy is similar to Carey is a moot point, but let's not forget he destroyed the culture of that club for a good five years.

That would make your comment about destroying NM also a moot point....

I think it's a fair comparison.
Comparing player to player.
They were both able to turn a game. Carey was an inspiring leader until the end.

[southsideswan]

But would Jake make a better captain then Tom ... sorry could not help myself. I doubt whether Buddy would make a good captain as required by our team. We need players that have an overview of the whole game and make changers as required. The coach to runner to player can be too long for what is sometimes required. The small decisions have to be made by the leaders on the paddock. We are fortunate with what we have and can not see changers very soon.

[Matt80]

But would Jake make a better captain then Tom ... sorry could not help myself. I doubt whether Buddy would make a good captain as required by our team. We need players that have an overview of the whole game and make changers as required. The coach to runner to player can be too long for what is sometimes required. The small decisions have to be made by the leaders on the paddock. We are fortunate with what we have and can not see changers very soon.

I think Jake would make a better leader than Tom. Jake has had to scrap harder than Tom early in his career. That toil and struggle builds resilience, empathy and teaches you to make every day and every session that best it can be. Kieran Jack has had a similar grounding.

[ugg]

I think Jake would make a better leader than Tom. Jake has had to scrap harder than Tom early in his career. That toil and struggle builds resilience, empathy and teaches you to make every day and every session that best it can be. Kieran Jack has had a similar grounding.

Tom's had to battle a fair few number of serious injuries in his career so far. I dare say that would involve toil and struggle and requires a certain degree of resilience as well.

[rojo]

I wouldn't rule out Buddy as a captain in a year or two. After all he is going to be with us for a l-o-o-ooong time. To hear team members replying to the constantly asked questions about what Buddy is like around the club, they all seem to genuinely like him and speak highly of him in regard of his positive influence around the place.

Maybe a bit like Mummy at GWS, changing clubs has meant that Buddy has greater opportunity to mature from being 'one of the boys' to take on more responsibility and develop into a good leader. This off-season will probably reveal how much the 'bloods culture' or 'ndp' has managed to 'refine' him.

[Rob-bloods]

I can't help but feel that Mummy was given GWS's Best and Fairest as a parting two finger salute to the Swans. He had a very good season for them though, which was bittersweet to watch.

Mummy wanted more years then his knees would appear to last he had a stellar opening with GWS then minor knee surgery winning the b and f may be more of an indictment of the players who played every game than anything else. Notwithstanding he is a terrific ruckman 2 mill for 4 years and, say, 60 games is a risk in itself.

[penga]

I think our captains generally have a tendency to step aside sooner rather than later, however I don't dispute that both guys are doing an absolutely outstanding job. The fact that they are both Sydney born and bred is fantastic as well.

Ahhemm.. McVeigh is a Central Coast boy!!

[Ludwig]

Tom's had to battle a fair few number of serious injuries in his career so far. I dare say that would involve toil and struggle and requires a certain degree of resilience as well.

I agree. Tom's had a lot of expectations of him and has had quite a bad run with injuries. Jake, on the other hand, has had a clear run. You can even say that he was lucky to have been overlooked by teams like Melbourne, who could have really used a player like Jake, and ended up at the Swans where he's going to be playing in a grand final.

[Conor_Dillon]

Ahhemm.. McVeigh is a Central Coast boy!!

Haha sorry Penga my mistake!

[111431]

I think Jake would make a better leader than Tom. Jake has had to scrap harder than Tom early in his career. That toil and struggle builds resilience, empathy and teaches you to make every day and every session that best it can be. Kieran Jack has had a similar grounding.

I'm with you on that one