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Being captain of an AFL club is not a job to be taken lightly; poor captain appointments haven’t been the sole difference between success and failure but they have a major bearing.
No doubt Nick Maxwell was a good choice at Collingwood even though he was always unheralded; meanwhile other seemingly sexy choices have let their clubs down at the same time.
So who are the future skippers who will lead clubs up or down the ladder?
(Check out Part 1 for the next captains of Adelaide, Brisbane, Carlton, Collingwood, Essendon, Fremantle, Geelong and Gold Coast.)
GWS Giants
Incumbent: Callan Ward/Phil Davis
Ward was a great purchase by the new franchise, the kid from Spotswood, Bulldogs’ heartland, lured by an offer he couldn’t turn down and now a bonafide star leading a club capable of big things.
Tough, very tough, shakes off tackles but nails the ones he makes, he is a lovely combination of skilful and courageous and that’s wonderful leadership in itself. Davis is no-nonsense, incredibly articulate and a fantastic person, characteristics of a good leader, but this is Ward’s team no doubt.
Next captain: Dylan Shiel
Oh how the Victorian clubs will rue not making this gun think ever so slightly more about coming home. Not quite the household name being an up and coming midfielder for the competition’s least followed club but he soon will be once he receives accolades left, right and centre. Not to say he will but he is the kind of player who you can just see having a real crack at a Brownlow one year, an absolute jet who stands out to teammates, fans and importantly for the medal umpires alike.
Hawthorn
Incumbent: Luke Hodge – one of the best captains of our generation. Very few tougher players have played for Hawthorn and the brown and gold have been notorious for their grunt through the decades. A fine proponent of the game, such is his ability to run and organise a defence so good it sets up premiership-winning foundations. Inspirational, to use an American phrase he will be a ‘first ballot’ hall of famer, a champion of our game.
Next captain: Liam Shiels
Left field to some but Hawks fans rave about the importance of this bloke to their makeup and also importantly their future. A three-time premiership player, one of their most instrumental midfielders even if underappreciated, he will still be just 25 at Round 1 next year. Hodge will relinquish the captaincy at some point and there are highly credentialled generals in waiting, Lewis, Smith, Birchall, however age does not flatter their candidacy, Shiels, has the leadership skills and fits the age bracket to lead the next wave.
Melbourne
Incumbent: Nathan Jones
What a selfless, hard-working individual. Jack Trengove and Jack Grimes, if to be somewhat crass, were awful selections but they got it as right as they were wrong when they put Jones in a few years back. He has ridden all the bumps and catastrophes that faced the Demons and has hardly put a foot wrong. A damn good player himself, would walk into even the strongest Hawthorn midfield and befit himself well.
Next captain: Jack Viney – replace one tough nut with another, the son of a champion who could end up being a better player. Todd’s boy Jack has all the makings of a great Melbourne captain, sure the lineage is a nice-to-have but he is a supreme talent, combining a raw and unwaivering thirst for the contest, the ball and the man with an elite ability to find the ball and use it coolly. On the cusp of superstardom he is.
North Melbourne
Incumbent: Andrew Swallow
He is not flashy, not quick, not the most skilful and one of the most unrecognisable captains in the game. Probably maligned by many but North fans will cry foul at the suggestion Swallow isn’t vital to their prospects, most especially this year.
In and under, wins a lot of contested footy and is very strong behind closed doors in driving the culture that sees the Roos were they are today. Not a strong media presence but he doesn’t need to be, doing a great job.
Next captain: Jack Ziebell
A high draft pick who took a little while to come on but Ziebell has arrived the last few years and this year especially he is having an All-Australian year and an All-Australian influence on getting his side top at the halfway point of the season.
Tough as nails, never shirks a contest and wins more than his fair share of them too. A smart player too, makes great decisions and would be someone who really leads by example, players would follow him anywhere.
Port Adelaide
Incumbent: Travis Boak
Almost poached by the jetsetting Cats hierarchy a few years ago, Boak has been a terrific captain for the Power. Gut-running, gutsy, awfully good in and under, Boak was always known as being the draft selection before Joel Selwood but now is a bonafide gun in his own right. Almost led the club to a fairytale in 2014, recent times have been more down than up but no question he is a jet and properly solid skipper.
Next captain: Ollie Wines
Speaking of jets, what a profound impact Wines had when he burst onto the scene as an overgrown bull from the riverland. The body of a man from his debut and he has played scintillating footy ever since. Hasn’t been as strong of performance the last year or so but as the club picks itself up again and gets back into finals footy Wines will be front and centre, winning plenty of ball in the midfield and taking the competition again by storm.
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