The new Greater Western Sydney co-captains spent some time with Aussie cricket legend Steve Waugh after the captaincy announcement this morning, and let’s hope they were listening.
They are going to need all the advice they can get. The new club is making and breaking records with the announcement of 21-year-old pair Callan Ward and Phil Davis to share the captaincy with Luke Power.
Here are the stats: Davis has played 18 AFL games during two seasons with the Adelaide Crows. Today’s appointment makes him the most inexperienced AFL captain since Haydn Bunton took the reins of Fitzroy in 1932.
Ward, meanwhile, has played a relatively high number of games – 60. His elevation to co-captain makes him the sixth youngest leader in AFL history.
After the announcement I asked Ward, who is sporting a healthy beard, if he plans on keeping it now he is captain. He replied that he had better as it makes him look older.
Keep in mind Ward comes from a Western Bulldogs team full of experienced players, where he was the youngster looking to learn. While he certainly showed potential at the Dogs, where he was regarded as a future captain, he has gone from the outhouse to the penthouse in terms of appointment.
Power has a lot of responsibility. After 282 games and three premierships, he is practically the teams chaperone. Most of the squad are only 18, and this year could be a tough one for the Lions stalwart. He is likely to hang up the boots after this season, to be replaced in a captaincy role by $2 million dollar recruit Tom Scully, who was left out after his acrimonious split with the Demons.
It’s a huge weight on his shoulders to lead a side fresh out of high school, with only six weeks of team training behind them and 39 days until they meet the Swans in round one.
The Giants do boast some talent in the wider leadership group. Supporting the co-captains is Scully, Rhys Palmer, Dean Brogan, Setanta O’hAilpin, and Chad Cornes.
This is a group of eight that will have to keep the side in good spirits and fighting when they take several heavy losses early on.
Power has the perspective that comes with age, particularly having been a youngster when the Bears and Fitzroy joined forces in 1997, but the qualities of the others will be tested in the early rounds, and the way they respond will go a long way to shaping the Giants first season.
You get the feeling, though, that season 2012 is not the priority for Kevin Sheedy. When asked what he expected out of his side in the next months trial games, he simply said, ‘Entertainment’.
The age of his leadership group, and indeed his side, speaks of a long term commitment to success, rather than a team thrown together to attempt to sporadically succeed early on.
Those wearing Giants colours this year are either promising youngsters, or, like Power, veterans who are there to guide them in their fledgling careers, and create a culture that can compete with the best when all those teenagers are 22 or 23.
It’s a long view, one which needs to be shared with foundation fans, as they endure what could prove a painful year.
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