Fast-forward six months from now and its mid-January 2019, where most AFL clubs will be announcing their leadership groups and captains for the upcoming season.
For South Australia, I think we will see a change for both clubs.
Travis Boak has been an outstanding player and everything Port Adelaide could have hoped for after they took him with the fifth overall pick in 2006. In that time, Boak has played 237 games for Port Adelaide and earned himself a Club Best and Fairest (2011) and dual All-Australian selections (2013, 2014).
Many expected Travis to leave Port Adelaide and head back to Victoria at the end of 2012 after the club spent a number of years struggling both on and off the field. However, Travis showed his character and faith in the club by signing a 2-year extension with Port Adelaide, playing a vital role in their resurgence.
Boak, who turns 30 next month, isn’t the devastating midfielder he once was. The emergence of young bulls Ollie Wines and Sam Powell-Pepper, along with the recent recruitment of Tom Rockliff and Steven Motlop, has pushed Boak to a half-forward role, minimising the opportunity he once had to rip games apart.
Boak’s shift to half-forward is something we saw a lot of in season 2017, with the skipper kicking 19 goals from 22 games. Season 2018 tells a similar story with the Power veteran struggling to impact the scoreboard, kicking just 13 goals from 16 games.
Travis Boak will be forever loved by the Power faithful, and he’ll be remembered as the club great who helped re-establish the Port Adelaide brand and brought them back to dominance. However, season 2019 should be the year Travis steps aside and passes the baton over to current vice-captain Ollie, signifying a new era at Port Adelaide.
At West Lakes, Taylor Walker was first announced as the Crows skipper in 2015 under coach Phil Walsh. Walker hasn’t disappointed in his tenure as captain, with the Crows making the finals every year under his reign, including his first year as captain when the Crows senior coach was tragically murdered.
(AAP Image/Tracey Nearmy)
Phil, who had his senior coaching dream cut short, was considered to be one of the best tactical minds in our game. He was also what some may call a little bit old-school in his approach and famous for publically referencing a term he called ‘man conversations’. As we look back on the decision and compare both Walsh and Walker, I think it would be fair to say Tex is Phil Walsh’s perfect captain.
As we fast-forward to the present, current Crows coach Don Pyke has had plenty of success in his limited time at West lakes, delivering a grand final appearance in just his second year as senior coach. From what we’ve seen in the coach’s box and media interviews, Don Pyke naturally seems to be one of the more reserved senior coaches in the AFL.
The words Rory Sloane would scream leadership for many in the AFL community, with a number of Victorian clubs pursuing his services up until last week. The vice-captain made the club and Crows fans sweat on his decision, as he seemingly remained undecided on whether he wanted to stay or head back home to Victoria.
There was genuine cause for concern when the Club announced Sloane would be sidelined with a Lisfranc sprain, an injury that had previously seen former Brownlow medallist Dane Swan call time on his career. However, since Sloane’s return, he’s shown no signs of any lingering issues that would see him unable to fulfil his newly inked 5-year deal.
Although Taylor Walker has been voted as the competition’s best captain in consecutive years (2016, 2017), I believe the time for change is now. Since the passing of Phil Walsh, the Crows campaign for premiership success has long been labelled as ‘unfinished business’ in Phil’s honour.
However, this is no longer Phil’s team and I think its time Crows fans close the door on that chapter. To me, Rory Sloane looks like Don Pyke’s perfect captain. I think the Crows should take the opportunity to mark season 2019 as the birth of a new era and pass the captaincy torch over to Sloaney.
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