Top 10 Captains since the Turn of the Century

[STPer18]

Much the same could be said of Voss but Selwood (and maybe Hodge?) was lucky enough to walk into a club with good leaders and an existing winning culture.

Selwood walked into a club in the midst of a 44-year premiership drought after the club just put in a stinker of a year and went through a highly publicised review. Based on what plenty of his then senior teammates have said, it wasn't a case of 'right place, right time' - he was one of the central drivers of it.

 

[Chip Scab1]

Luke McDonald would have to be up there

100%. The worst I have seen. Hard to say if he would have been better with a better team around him, but doubt he's the best player in his family which say a bit, as Donald wasn't much chop.

 

[G String]

Selwood walked into a club in the midst of a 44-year premiership drought after the club just put in a stinker of a year and went through a highly publicised review. Based on what plenty of his then senior teammates have said, it wasn't a case of 'right place, right time' - he was one of the central drivers of it.

Cotchin walked into a club that had Terry Wallace as coach and the leadership group included Nathan Brown and Brett Delideo. I get your point - no doubt Selwood was a great leader and was a major driver in their premierships but I do think Cotchin/Richmond had bigger issues and came from a much lower base

 

[Freomaniac]

Who are the worst captains?

Nathan van Berlo at the crows is up there.

I will sadly throw Shaun McManus up there. Co captain in 2000 and 2001 for the dockers.

 

[iameviljez]

Honestly, if there's one thing that's almost impossible to tell from the outside, it's internal leadership.

No coincidence that who we view as "best captain" is also the best player.

 

[Noidnadroj]

Cotchin walked into a club that had Terry Wallace as coach and the leadership group included Nathan Brown and Brett Delideo. I get your point - no doubt Selwood was a great leader and was a major driver in their premierships but I do think Cotchin/Richmond had bigger issues and came from a much lower base

Selwood was made captain of a highly successful club. Hodge the same. Pendles the same. Cotchin was made captain of a club who hadn’t made finals for 12-years and had won 2 x finals in the prior 31-years.

He led them to finals in 7 of his 9 years as captain and 3 x flags, breaking a 37-year Premiership drought the year after finishing 13th and almost sacking the coach, largely through changing the way he played and led the team.

He’s often not as highly rated as he’s not as good a player as Selwood, Pendles or Voss, but from the team he was asked to lead and the influence his leadership had in helping change the course of a club’s fortunes, he’s IMO got no peer in modern footy as a captain other than Voss.


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[Mr Meow]

Selwood was made captain of a highly successful club. Hodge the same. Pendles the same. Cotchin was made captain of a club who hadn’t made finals for 12-years and had won 2 x finals in the prior 31-years.

He led them to finals in 7 of his 9 years as captain and 3 x flags, breaking a 37-year Premiership drought the year after finishing 13th and almost sacking the coach, largely through changing the way he played and led the team.

He’s often not as highly rated as he’s not as good a player as Selwood, Pendles or Voss, but from the team he was asked to lead and the influence his leadership had in helping change the course of a club’s fortunes, he’s IMO got no peer in modern footy as a captain other than Voss.


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Yes of course, as is usual, a Richmond player did it more heroically and emphatically. Cotchin the GOAT captain. There will be a poll to confirm it soon.

 

[Fadge]

Yes of course, as is usual, a Richmond player did it more heroically and emphatically. Cotchin the GOAT captain. There will be a poll to confirm it soon.

Sadly, he's currently in 5th place based on top 10 rankings provided in this thread, behind the obvious two - Voss and Hodge, but also Selwood and Pendlebury.

I'm sure there's some sort of conspiracy against Richmond to explain it.

I blame Stephen Hocking, the stand rule, and the ARC.

 

[WalshistheGOAT]

Sadly, he's currently in 5th place based on top 10 rankings provided in this thread, behind the obvious two - Voss and Hodge, but also Selwood and Pendlebury.

I'm sure there's some sort of conspiracy against Richmond to explain it.

I blame Stephen Hosking, the stand rule, and the ARC.

Anyone who's got Pendlebury ahead of Cotchin as a captain needs to get their head checked

 

[Pistol Night]

Anyone who's got Pendlebury ahead of Cotchin as a captain needs to get their head checked

**** me you're predictable. Its OK, show us where Collingwood hurt you?

 

[WalshistheGOAT]

**** me you're predictable. Its OK, show us where Collingwood hurt you?

3 flags as captain vs 0

 

[Pistol Night]

3 flags as captain vs 0

Must mean Cripps is really shit. Hasn't even played in one. Damn

 

[KissKiss]

Selwood walked into a club in the midst of a 44-year premiership drought after the club just put in a stinker of a year and went through a highly publicised review. Based on what plenty of his then senior teammates have said, it wasn't a case of 'right place, right time' - he was one of the central drivers of it.

He maybe stepped into a highly talented and successful club who struggled massively to take the last step and he was a big part of driving them the last step. But he never played at a really bad club and helped turn them around - I cant judge that as a negative, but I do probably rate the guys who came from a lower base maybe a little bit higher.

I can see why he is a no brainer top 5 captain on the century, but also can understand why a couple of others (like Voss (trying to account for my own bias)) are arguably seen above him for doing the same but coming from tougher starting points

 

[Fadge]

Anyone who's got Pendlebury ahead of Cotchin as a captain needs to get their head checked

It was actually a Hawthorn supporter.

Completely unbiased.

 

[WalshistheGOAT]

Must mean Cripps is really shit. Hasn't even played in one. Damn

Don't recall anyone putting Cripps name forward as a top 10 captain this century.

Not sure why you're having a meltdown you over someone pointing out the bleating obvious re Pendles vs Cotchin as captains.

 

[Fadge]

Must mean Cripps is really shit. Hasn't even played in one. Damn

Not yet considered in anyone's top 10 rankings.

 

[WalshistheGOAT]

It was actually a Hawthorn supporter.

Completely unbiased.

I know, you had Pendles 5th. A fair position imo.

 

[Fadge]

A fair position imo.

As always with my assessments.

 

[Pistol Night]

It was actually a Hawthorn supporter.

Completely unbiased.

For what its worth I'd probably have Cotch ahead of Pendles as a skipper but you can imagine old Walshy's undie sniffer would have Pendlebury the worst captain of the century purely on the jumper he wears. Predictable bias shit as usual. If only he wasn't so insecure the poor little fella

 

[Fadge]

For what its worth I'd probably have Cotch ahead of Pendles as a skipper but you can imagine old Walshy's undie sniffer would have Pendlebury the worst captain of the century purely on the jumper he wears. Predictable bias shit as usual. If only he wasn't so insecure the poor little fella

I swear he has some sort of algorithm to alert him every time 'Pendlebury' or 'Daicos' are posted on BigFooty..

 

[Osho]

I always liked Cotchin's redemption story, from zero to club legend, turned the playing group around completely. Still despised and under rated outside the club. Most footy fans are fools, let's face it.

Next would be Hodge, a cunning, skillful, hard, leader from the front, and defensive general. And nasty. And a good bloke I'd have given him top spot if not for 2008.

Above them both is Voss, fearless, brutal, and more enthusiasm than a teenager at the daily planet.

The rest can argue amongst themselves.

 

[Pistol Night]

I always liked Cotchin's redemption story, from zero to club legend, turned the playing group around completely. Still despised and under rated outside the club. Most footy fans are fools, let's face it.

Next would be Hodge, a cunning, skillful, hard, leader from the front, and defensive general. And nasty. And a good bloke I'd have given him top spot if not for 2008.

Above them both is Voss, fearless, brutal, and more enthusiasm than a teenager at the daily planet.

The rest can argue amongst themselves.

Yeah i tend to agree its Voss/Hodge in no particular order then daylight

 

[Fadge]

OP has been updated with the cumulative totals as of now:

 

[G String]

Yeah i tend to agree its Voss/Hodge in no particular order then daylight

He's saying Voss then Cotch then Hodge

 

[G String]

Yes of course, as is usual, a Richmond player did it more heroically and emphatically. Cotchin the GOAT captain. There will be a poll to confirm it soon.

Hero status is forged on the biggest stage. Cotch and Voss - 3x premiership captains. I'm not sure a poll of BigFooty's finest will be the deciding factor