2026 Captain (poll)

[The Nostradamus]

It’s Sheezels team now

 

[DuckYeah]

I'd be up for Lmac as sole Captain

Shouldn’t be best 23. So no, cannot be captain

 

[kool kangas]

He can lead as vice captain as well as he can as captain, without the pressure. Like it or not, the elevation to vice captain likely weighed on him early season. Let him lead from the side until he's leading from the front in all but title. He's still very young - do like he has Parker as a role model now though, couldn't be more perfect.

Parker Captain
Sheezel and Larkey Joint Vice Captains

 

[kool kangas]

It’s Sheezels team now

Not yet unless we have joint captains, which l do not want. However if if does end up that wway then it has to be Parker and Sneezel in 2026 and in 2027 Sheezel become sole Captain.

 

[Tiberius]

Parker for me. His experience as co-captain in Grand Final teams would be invaluable to pass on and demonstrate to Harry for the future. And Harry could learn from watching him go about it. I'm also not against the two of them being co-captains. Nobody doubts that it will be Harry eventually though.

 

[Chadwiko]

Larkey/Sheezel Co-Captains.

 

[Chadwiko]

For those advocating for Luke Parker

26

Luke Parker

Age

33

Ht

183cm

Wt

88kg

Pos.

M/F

Career

Season

Last 5

D

24.2

5star

K

12.6

5star

HB

11.6

5star

M

3.8

4star

T

5.6

5star

CL

5.8

5star

D

22.1

5star

K

12.3

5star

HB

9.9

5star

M

3.9

4star

T

5.0

5star

CL

5.5

5star

D

21.2

5star

K

11.4

4star

HB

9.8

5star

M

2.0

3star

T

8.0

5star

CL

5.2

5star

for Captain, I ask this;

Do you think Parker will be a starting midfielder for North Melbourne in 2026?

If so, which player out of Sheezel, LDU, Wardlaw (and potential midfield rotations McKercher/FOS) do you think should start the game on the bench so Parker can line up in the best 18?

 

[Elite Master]

This thread makes me

What is everyone's obsession with co-captains! We don't want or need co-captains again.

Larkey or Xerri would be my choice, Sheezle is the long term objective.

 

[winalotroos]

I voted for X, this is because he has some real mongrel in him, and will protect the younger guys.
but would be happy with Larkey or Parker, Sheezel in a year or two.
Oh yes please no co-captains!

 

[King Corey]

I voted for X, this is because he has some real mongrel in him, and will protect the younger guys.
but would be happy with Larkey or Parker, Sheezel in a year or two.
Oh yes please no co-captains!

Agree re co-captains.

Ruck changes concern me re Xerri. Otherwise he would've been great. But he might have his hands full trying to stay relevant in the AFL's "no touching please" I interpretation of the role.

Larkey, Parker or Sheezel right now on that basis.

 

[kool kangas]

For those advocating for Luke Parker for Captain, I ask this;

Do you think Parker will be a starting midfielder for North Melbourne in 2026?

If so, which player out of Sheezel, LDU, Wardlaw (and potential midfield rotations McKercher/FOS) do you think should start the game on the bench so Parker can line up in the best 18?

You dont have to be a midfielder to be Captain,

Melbourne> Gawn
Collingwood > Moore
Hawthorn > Sicily
Freo > Pearce
GWS > Greene
Richmond > Nankervis
West Coast > Duggan and Allen.

Powell can be on the bench for Parker to start the game in the first 18 if neccessary.

 

[Whippet1]

At least 50% of the reason Parker was brought to the club was his leadership. Let him lead.
Sheezel Xerri and Larkey VCs in that order. Larkey checked out for a few rounds last season imo so Xerri goes ahead of him.

 

[showusyacunningt]

Voted big X, unmatched in terms of leading by example.
Wouldn't be mad if they gave it to Harry now.

 

[backtothedraft]

We're in a dire position leadership wise if Parker is elected captain. Take nothing away from Luke as a leader but i'd hope there'd be younger options. Would be happy with any of them as captain but think it will land:

C: Larkey
VC: Xerri + Sheezel

 

[Ichiro #51]

For those advocating for Luke Parker for Captain, I ask this;

Do you think Parker will be a starting midfielder for North Melbourne in 2026?

If so, which player out of Sheezel, LDU, Wardlaw (and potential midfield rotations McKercher/FOS) do you think should start the game on the bench so Parker can line up in the best 18?

I think Parker will be a starting mid next season, provided his body holds up okay.

Sheez, with his versatility will continue to play a variety of roles, including midfield. And I would expect Wardlaw to still be on fairly low tog next year.

Only guessing of course, but I predict LDU, Parker, Wardlaw to be the mainstays with Sheezel and perhaps Powell/Kerch rotating through. I don’t think we’ll see FOS in the midfield next year.

Having said that, I would pick Larkey as captain for the next four or so seasons. I would prefer us to be a little further out of the woods before Sheezel takes over.

 

[roopdog]

Larkey and Sheez - co captains

X and Parker - vice captains

Nothing has changed

 

[DuckYeah]

Ive come around to Harry being captain. I think he has the mental fortitude to be a captain.

I still prefer X or Larkey. But I wouldn’t be upset if Harry captained the club

 

[zoomba23]

This thread makes me

And when Elite Master gets angry, Mr Bigglesworth gets upset...

 

[Scottroo]

It’s gotta be Parker

 

[The Nostradamus]

It’s gotta be Parker

Nah the time to make him captain /co captain was last year

Too late now imo as he only has 1-2 years left

Just make it Harry and lock it in for a decade

 

[Jindrrk]

Shouldn’t be best 23. So no, cannot be captain

He definitely is. As much as people like to think he isn't. This of course tells you the state of our list but he is still in our 23/22, easily.

 

[Jindrrk]

Ive come around to Harry being captain. I think he has the mental fortitude to be a captain.

I still prefer X or Larkey. But I wouldn’t be upset if Harry captained the club

Should be X.

I said this at the start of last year on Twitter well before anyone had even thought about it. He is the epitome of a Shinboner and should be leading team.

 

[DuckYeah]

He definitely is. As much as people like to think he isn't. This of course tells you the state of our list but he is still in our 23/22, easily.

Nope.

Arch/goater/hardeman as the small/mediums on field. And then you’ll have rotations of FOS and hate to say it CD, Kerch and maybe Sheezel to float in and out. Happy meal shouldn’t be anywhere near a fit North best 23. If he is then we aren’t going anywhere.

 

[The Nostradamus]

Should be X.

I said this at the start of last year on Twitter well before anyone had even thought about it. He is the epitome of a Shinboner and should be leading team.

Considering he’s never even been voted into the leadership group I can’t see that happening

He should be vice captain maybe

 

[Devil Fish]

You feel for whoever gets the gig. One way ticket to a padded cell.