Prediction Is now the time for the next captain?

[pK75]

2024 = 15 games played
2025 = 16 games played

I think most agree that in both seasons he came back one game too early on top of that. His availability is a concerning trend.

Yes, we have legitimate replacements... so what better time to replace him?

If he is part of digging a hole in big games and is the captain, it is less than ideal.

As to your point about the players valuing him... that is a nothing point. We may as well not discuss a thing on this board if we are going to use that as an appeal to authority. Some of our players are very bright, some not so bright, some make great personal decisions, some make dumb young man decisions. Using them as a point in your argument is folly.

Oh the coaches selected X player... no point discussing it as they value him. Oh we drafted X player, no point discussing it as the recruiters obviously value the one they selected.

What’s up posh? This seems more cynical than optimistic.
What happened to the stories involving pleasing the wife ?

 

[Sully90]

Don’t mind stability but feel it’s stagnant. Not removing anyone from the leadership group and just adding someone is pretty weak. JOM spot in the 22 is not guaranteed. Everyone else is a top 10 player.

EDIT
Switkowski too, him and JOM.

As far as selection goes. I feel thats only an issue for captain/vice captain.

Did i miss somethjng with Switta though? When was the last time his position was under threat

 

[Paracleet]

What’s up posh? This seems more cynical than optimistic.
What happened to the stories involving pleasing the wife ?

To a hammer, everything looks like a nail.

 

[FreoRicci]

JOM still in the leadership group is worrying

 

[poshman]

What’s up posh? This seems more cynical than optimistic.
What happened to the stories involving pleasing the wife ?

Haha the wife and little ones are both delightful and a pleasure. Got a baby sitter and date booked this weekend and we are gardening together this weekend as well. nothing like a little garden flirting to brighten the day!

 

[poshman]

To a hammer, everything looks like a nail.

lol great insight there, Well done discussing the points raised.. I suppose when you don't have an argument you don't have much to say.

 

[poshman]

JOM still in the leadership group is worrying

Yeah.. baffling.

 

[poshman]

If you were a player at the club right now, who would you vote for?

I'm really unsure who would get my vote.

Great question.

I would happily have Brayshaw, Serrong or Treacy as the captain.

I still think Pearce brings strong leadership and can perform his role to a high level though. Not the end of the world.

 

[DeadEyeJye]

I like it.

I know there's always thoughts and different perspectives around this, particularly with Moose having some opinions that differ to others, and Caleb and Andy appearing ripe to take on more leadership responsibility, but I firmly believe stability and consistency are two underappreciated traits.

The club is in a position to challenge at the pointy end of the next few seasons and having a consistent and stable leadership team is exactly what we need.

I agree regarding stable leadership, however I feel a delay has only kicked that can down the street, and they may find themselves in a position where that stability gets blown up in the middle of being a genuinely contending team in a year or 2 years time. Still, the team has spoken and Im happy to back the big Moose in.

 

[Sully90]

I agree regarding stable leadership, however I feel a delay has only kicked that can down the street, and they may find themselves in a position where that stability gets blown up in the middle of being a genuinely contending team in a year or 2 years time. Still, the team has spoken and Im happy to back the big Moose in.

I really don't think it's an issue especially if the incoming captain has already been a vice captain for the past 3 seasons.

Hawks changed captains in the middle of their dynasty
Geelong changed captains in the middle of their dynasty, including the year they started their dynasty
Brisbane Lions changed captains the year they started making grand finals

As long as you're change has some sort of continuity and you're leadership structure as whole is working well then timing really doesn't come into it.

Now if we were to make finals this year and then in 2027 name say Luke Jackson as captain, then there'd be cause for concern.

 

[Piggy Smalls]

I really don't think it's an issue especially if the incoming captain has already been a vice captain for the past 3 seasons.

Hawks changed captains in the middle of their dynasty
Geelong changed captains in the middle of their dynasty, including the year they started their dynasty
Brisbane Lions changed captains the year they started making grand finals

As long as you're change has some sort of continuity and you're leadership structure as whole is working well then timing really doesn't come into it.

Now if we were to make finals this year and then in 2027 name say Luke Jackson as captain, then there'd be cause for concern.

Yeah na on Jackson

 

[chaosball32]

Not a fan of this for a few reasons.

• Injury prone - has only played 31 games out of 47 in the past 2 years. In his 12 seasons he’s only had 3 seasons where he’s played 20+ games. He’s 30 now so this trend is likely to continue.
• Placid - I don’t think you can have both JL and Pearce as the frontmen of your club, two of the most soft spoken and nervy coach/captains the game has seen. Between JL’s stuttering and nail-biting and Pearce self-admitted pre-game anxiety attacks it’s no wonder the team often comes out of the blocks slow.
• Lack of change - it’s one thing to stick with a coaching setup due to not being able to lure coaches from over east but this just feels lazy. Feel like we’ve had the same leadership group for a few years now and it’s only getting bigger. Half the team will be in it soon.
• Timing - 26 year old Brayshaw and 25 year old Serong are primed now, if not now then when?
• Activism - I’m not saying I agree or disagree with his political stances but it does draw unnecessary attention to the club. I wonder what his views are on major long-time partner Woodside?
• Commitment - not to say I question his commitment but I’d rather a captain who doesn’t have one foot in Tasmania FC (if his body doesn’t break down before then)

I also just don’t agree with the line of thinking that because the players like him means we stick with it. I’m sure the players like JL to and would love to keep him around for another decade. Remind me how that worked out for Port Adelaide?

 

[Jezzitizle]

8 man leadership group, soon they will just be listing who isn’t in it for brevity.

The hand wringing around Pearce as captain is nonsense, players clearly hold him in high regard and they have a good process to choose him.

He was often our best player when games were at their hottest last year.

 

[stax on the mull]

I also just don’t agree with the line of thinking that because the players like him means we stick with it. I’m sure the players like JL to and would love to keep him around for another decade. Remind me how that worked out for Port Adelaide?

Who is the JL at Port Adelaide? Jack Lukosius.

 

[Arcassius]

Serong for 2027

 

[Sully90]

Serong for 2027

Serong for 2024 2025 2026 2027

 

[estibador]

Placid - I don’t think you can have both JL and Pearce as the frontmen of your club, two of the most soft spoken and nervy coach/captains the game has seen. Between JL’s stuttering and nail-biting and Pearce self-admitted pre-game anxiety attacks it’s no wonder the team often comes out of the blocks slow.

This is the big one for me. I'm concerned it's not a good mix with JLo as coach.

It's also why I'm leaning more towards Serong than Brayshaw these days - to provide that point of contrast.

 

[2big2strom]

anxiety and nerves are not bad things to have, particularly if you have been to therapy and worked on it (which Pearce has). and he has also shown he can work through it mid-game. that is strength. fages looks like a ****ing grandpa and guess what, he's a back to back premiership coach. if you can command a room with a whisper, why would you shout?

 

[anchor man]

Thank goodness there are wiser and more footy smart people at the club making this decision, that there are here.
Great call.

 

[BigRang]

Thank goodness there are wiser and mire footy smart people at the club making this decision, that there are here.
Great call.

Yeah agree. At the end of the day from what I can gather the players and football department vote on it. And they voted in Moose. If the players and footy department are ok with it then it’s fine with me.

 

[Purple Jesus]

Serong for 2027

Hopefully this hasn't cost his signature but I don't think he'd be that driven by personal accolades over team success.

 

[poshman]

anxiety and nerves are not bad things to have, particularly if you have been to therapy and worked on it (which Pearce has). and he has also shown he can work through it mid-game. that is strength. fages looks like a ****ing grandpa and guess what, he's a back to back premiership coach. if you can command a room with a whisper, why would you shout?

Yes well done him for working through it mid game... pity the captain adds to our ongoing issue of slow starts.

If you had a choice between the captain working through his slow start at half time or just say coming out and playing well from the first quarter of the GF, which would you take?

 

[Cesoir]

If you had a choice between the captain working through his slow start at half time or just say coming out and playing well from the first quarter of the GF, which would you take?

Ummm... Wait a minute, don't tell me. I know this one. From the first quarter?

Did I get it right?

 

[Piggy Smalls]

Yes well done him for working through it mid game... pity the captain adds to our ongoing issue of slow starts.

If you had a choice between the captain working through his slow start at half time or just say coming out and playing well from the first quarter of the GF, which would you take?

In all fairness, he'd be the first Freo player to show up in the first quarter of a granny if he did.

 

[2big2strom]

Yes well done him for working through it mid game... pity the captain adds to our ongoing issue of slow starts.

If you had a choice between the captain working through his slow start at half time or just say coming out and playing well from the first quarter of the GF, which would you take?

if Brayshaw and Serong are so "on top" at the start of the game, why is the ball even getting to Pearce? How many players did the ball get through to even end up so deep in defense? Presumably more than once if Pearce is responsible for our slow starts... Why does it take Serong 3 quarters of a game to shake a tag? He should overcome it immediately otherwise how could he ever be captain. Or why does it take Brayshaw a whole half to stop bleeding very easy & obvious clearances?

Obviously I would rather a captain who plays well from quarter one in a grand final. But I would be just as happy to have a captain who can settle his (very young) team for a full season to be able to even reach finals, a captain who can stand up when awful things happen (e.g. - McCarthys suicide). A captain who can lead on and off the field, so we aren't just making excellent players whose lives fall apart the moment their football career ends. A captain who is grounded and measured in himself and his principles and shows respect to ALL of the people involved in a successful club and premiership team (families, admin staff, behind the scenes staff, fans) and can encourage other young men to be the same.

Also, are you forgetting Serong did a whole interview segment about anxiety and how he uses Lego as a coping mechanism and it took him more than half a season to adjust to his own expectations? I think it's great we have a leader who can steer from the back but also allow Serong & Brayshaw to focus solely on footy when they are at work. Being soft spoken has nothing to do with it.