Season 2017

[Levii3]

Skipping next year and going on to a possible 2018 team just from players already on our list gives some idea of our depth and a reason to feel positive about the future. I have also left our Macca, KJ, Mitchell and Tippett, which adds to the feeling that we should go well for some time to come. I've omitted a number of other listed players as well as the players to be drafted from these next 2 drafts. I suppose the Giants will be the big challenge over the next few years and suspect the Bulldogs will too, although Murphy, Boyd and Morris will probably be gone by then and the rest of the league will have worked out their system.

2018	Starter	Starter	Starter
FB	Johnson	Grundy	Smith
HB	Newman	Aliir	Rampe
C	Mills	Hanners	Hewett
F	Naismith	Kennedy	Parker
HF	Rohan	Reid	Heeney
FF	Lloyd	Franklin	Papley
INT	Jones	Davis	O'Riordan
#22	Rose	Nanka	Dawson
EMG	Cunningham	Talia	Foote

I don't think Hewett will be in best 22 in 2018 who ever we draft this year may take his spot. Why no Jack? Ben Davis or Abe Davis?

[Ludwig]

I don't think Hewett will be in best 22 in 2018 who ever we draft this year may take his spot. Why no Jack? Ben Davis or Abe Davis?

Everyone knows that I'm a big fan of Hewett, but I understand that some are not so keen on him. Only time will tell.

No reason on Jack except I omitted midfielders starting the 2018 over 30.

Abe Davis. Ben Davis is not on our list and not academy eligible for draft purposes. He can be drafted by anyone in the ND. I hope he slips through the ND and we can take him in the rookie draft.

[SouthSwans]

We should make Rampe sole captain next year, Hannebery vice captain with Kennedy (possibly also vice), Franklin and Grundy their deputies.
Those five play footy the right way all of the time.

Kizza and Macca have done a great job.
In their four years together they have led us to four finals appearances and two grand finals, but from what I saw on Saturday it's now time for new leadership.
We need some fresh, passionate, new-age footy thinking innovators actively leading the way for the group every second of every day.

If Kennedy wanted it I'd vote for him in a second but I'm not sure if he does and if he doesn't he shouldn't have to carry it, he does plenty for us already.
I have concerns over Franklin's performance being impacted by the captaincy.
Reg is a great leader but it doesn't make much sense to give it to someone on the wrong side of 30.

Hanners is the other one but I feel like he'd be even better for us as a vice captain at this stage.
Despite being the most anointed for it and possibly the one most deserving of it, if we held it back from him until later I think it would make him more hungry for it and make him a better player towards the end of his career.

For mine Parker isn't the right choice at this stage either, he's still improving as a player and must keep focusing on developing his personal game until he reaches his peak as a superstar player and fully understands his own strengths and limitations.

Rampe's courageous effort and desperate attitude stands out for us every week.

He's so grateful for his opportunity to play at the top level and for our club and you can see it in him every week compared to some of the others.

Dane has a great level head on his shoulders too, he's a very switched-on unit with a wonderfully committed, disciplined, thorough and resilient approach to his footy.

He is also a great character with plenty of charisma.

Compared to the other options I reckon he would be the most capable mentally to handle the weight of the captaincy role without compromising his playing role for the team or the consistency of his on-field performance.

I also reckon he'd be a unique leader and do it his own way (not robotically) and I have a feeling he'd relish the opportunity to captain the club he wants to give everything back to.

He strikes me as the type to take initiative and lead by example with desire and accountability.

If he was named captain I have no doubt he would understand and respect the expectations that come with the role.

He'd be honoured by the opportunity and whole-heartedly driven to meet and exceed those expectations.

He wouldn't allow his teammates to lack the desperation and courage that he always shows and he'd put all the boys on his back and drag them all with him (and probably lift/improve his on-field performance again).

That's what we need, someone like that.

Also I think it might be an idea to throw Heeney, Mills & Jones into the leadership group with those guys, give them a taste and get them all pumped up for the cause as well.
Give Kieren a much-needed spell from the leadership, just let him focus on his footy and I reckon we'll watch him fly again.
Macca's not far off the end but he's been a terrific player and spokesman/face for the club for a very long time now.
And let's not forget a premiership captain as well, he's been a wonderful leader.

But now we need our next generation to fire up.

Let's give them the reigns and see how much they want it!

[Hotpotato]

Can Dane speak on his feet win , lose or draw ?
They simply have to be able to address players, big crowds and big occasions .
Two or three sentences doesn't cut it .

[neilfws]

Ben Davis or Abe Davis?

or Nick Davis

[Levii3]

Also I think it might be an idea to throw Heeney, Mills & Jones into the leadership group with those guys, give them a taste and get them all pumped up for the cause as well.

Yes because it worked so well for the Demons...

[Levii3]

Everyone knows that I'm a big fan of Hewett, but I understand that some are not so keen on him. Only time will tell.

No reason on Jack except I omitted midfielders starting the 2018 over 30.

Abe Davis. Ben Davis is not on our list and not academy eligible for draft purposes. He can be drafted by anyone in the ND. I hope he slips through the ND and we can take him in the rookie draft.

We should take Abe in the open draft i doubt he'll get to the rookie. He played in the U18s all star game thats good indication he's in the top 50-60, if he's there round three we should take him.

[SouthSwans]

Yes because it worked so well for the Demons...

I never said make them them captain, just let them get a feel for what leading the club is about and get them somewhat involved in that process.

[neilfws]

We should make Rampe sole captain next year

I like this idea very much. Young captains with the right psychology have worked elsewhere. I guess only those on the inside know what attributes they want and who has them, but it's an intriguing proposal.

[SouthSwans]

Can Dane speak on his feet win , lose or draw ?
They simply have to be able to address players, big crowds and big occasions .
Two or three sentences doesn't cut it .

I think you'd get much more than two or three sentences out of him if you put him in charge, he has been accountable and diligent so far with all of his responsibility, but we haven't put it on him yet to lead us, and lead us his way. If we did I think we would see an outstanding leader emerge.

[Meg]

or Nick Davis

Or Bette Davis (we need a good actor of the Clay Smith type).

[Untamed Snark]

Or Bette Davis (we need a good actor of the Clay Smith type).

Miles Davis could rearrange the break time music for us.

[SouthSwans]

Parker may be similar type in a sense that if we put it on him to be the leader he could rise up to it, I worry though it may be too early and could potentially stunt his development as a player if he struggles to handle everything else that comes with it.

[KTigers]

Dane is a well brought up private school boy, I'm sure he has already been to quite a few leadership classes.

I think you'd get much more than two or three sentences out of him if you put him in charge, he has been accountable and diligent so far with all of his responsibility, but we haven't put it on him yet to lead us, and lead us his way. If we did I think we would see an outstanding leader emerge.

[Ludwig]

We should take Abe in the open draft i doubt he'll get to the rookie. He played in the U18s all star game thats good indication he's in the top 50-60, if he's there round three we should take him.

Abe Davis is already on our list, so we don't have to draft him. His brother Ben is the one that played in the U18s, although he's already 19. It's hard to say if he will slip through the ND. Some clubs will discount him because he's 19 and others because he's an out of stater and a risk to want to play with his brother. He's been inconsistent and perhaps not worth the risk for Victorian clubs to take him on. In any case, we only have so many spots on our senior list and we have to take the best player available when it's our turn.