Do you think Levi, chose Jack because he knew everyone looks up to JZ.It's been great to have Lingy at the club for a year without knowing how successful the whole leadership experiment thingy was. I did notice Spitta's leadership coming to the fore in the Adelaide games and the Geelong final, a few moments from Dish, but otherwise hard to read, with NDS also being a big factor in our leadership stocks this year (many rave about his half time speech in the Elimination).
I'm not really into this manufactured leadership idea. It is pretty simple really where the leadership does or does not come from in the club.
Boomer is a role model, especially on the training track, but on the field he is a moody bugger, switching between match winner and petulant kid. Remove those reactive brain fades and his leadership impact has already improved.
Dish is a leader through his forward presence, with the forward line structured around him. He is a clever bloke but he is introverted and it is not in his nature to lift the side through his presence like Carey. I think he already knows it is mostly about kicking those clutch goals and impacting the play at key moments that defines his leadership.
Spitta has shown signs of leading from the front ala Hayes by imposing himself on the game. He is at the coalface and that is where is happens for him. He will always be quietly spoken, but sense some added intensity from him, so if there is any sign of someone growing into the leadership role this year it has been the captain.
JZ is the natural leader, who doesn't need to be taught how to lead. He just needs to be playing consistently good footy otherwise it becomes hard to lead and inspire on the field. He is the leader of our young gen and the improvement will come through his footy.
Wellsy has a specific leadership role in the club, giving guidance to just about every young player in the team. He doesn't need to do any more than that, other than be fit and firing in the 1s.
NDS is clearly a motivator through his words and adds one of the missing ingredients, in that he knows and shares the experience of getting to the top level. He might be a smooth operator on the field but brings a tougher expectation to the group which has already impacted.
JMac is the back line general, smart fella with great vision who seems to be highly respected by his defensive team mates and coaching staff in this role.
The interesting thing this year was the way there was several examples of leadership coming from our debutants - LMac, Big Ben, and Sugar - and it came through their actions and personalities not from some sports science class in Leadership 101.
So, I'm all in favor of bringing Jono Brown, Lenny Hayes, or Brad Sewell on board, but would much prefer to see them working on specialist coaching (i.e.. J B working with Daw, Brown, Black on their use of the body or Lenny Hayes giving Basti and BMac some rag dolling tips) than the leadership caper.