Brock McLean: captain next year?

[dspeed]

From today's Herald Sun, good story, would you agree with Mark Stevens, should Brock be the captain next year and let Neita play out his last couple without that burden or should Neitz be captain until retirement?

http://www.heraldsun.news.com.au/footy/common/story_page/0,8033,21936009%5E19769,00.html

Wednesday Debate with Mark Stevens

ON MY SOAPBOX: Forget talk of player votes, leadership pow-wows and pysch tests, Mark Stevens writes.

Sometimes a new captain sprouts organically, without the help of fertiliser and expensive handywork.

Melbourne is lucky enough to have one in the nursery.
Brock McLean should replace David Neitz as the Demons skipper next season.

As good as Neitz has been, the big bloke has only one or two years left. Like Chris Grant, he should be left to play out his twilight years in peace.
McLean will be only a fortnight beyond his 22nd birthday by the time Round 1, 2008, comes around.

If he gets the gig, he will be the youngest skipper of Australia's oldest football club.

Greg Healy was 22 years, 199 days when he took over as captain in 1988.
And Frank Langley was 22 years, 204 days when appointed skipper back in 1905.

Consider that history and the McLean promotion seems a huge call.
But McLean has an old head for someone with 51 games to his name.
He would not have looked out of place leading the Demons out this year. Cameron Bruce, Brad Green and James McDonald have claims and Russell Robertson is unlucky not to be in the leadership group given the passion and spark he provides. But McLean ticks all the boxes.

Consider the following appraisal, taking in all the key elements of the model captain:

ABILITY/PERFORMANCE (9/10)

PROBABLY only narrowly behind Bruce as the Demons' No. 1 player. Won't be for long. Don't forget he was best on ground when Melbourne rolled St Kilda in the finals last year.

And Champion Data rankings confirm McLean is an elite player, not far short of Chris Judd for impact.

Since the start of 2006, Judd has been No. 1 for points earned per minute on the park with an average of 1.28. McLean has been second with 1.27. There is daylight to third.

LEADERSHIP/BODY LANGUAGE (8.5)

McLEAN bounced out of the race like a warrior for the Queen's Birthday game against Collingwood, narrowly behind Neitz. It was as if McLean couldn't wait to obliterate the banner. He is a natural born leader.

Again, in last year's final against Fremantle, McLean was next to Neitz. Others appeared tentative at the hostile Subiaco. McLean could not wait for war.

He is docked half a point, though, for allowing his anger to bubble over, conceding a 50m penalty against the Pies. Temper that, and he is Mr Perfect.

COURAGE (9)

COULD not be questioned -- and was there for all to see when McLean copped a foot injury in Round 1.

Despite a broken foot against the Saints, he refused to stop chasing the footy. He hobbled around for up to a minute, desperately trying to help his side.

He then refused to come off on a stretcher, instead somehow running off. What a statement.

Earlier in the game, he refused to shirk a mid-air clash with St Kilda's Fraser Gehrig. They're still talking about that at Melbourne.

MEDIA WORK (9)

HONEST. Forthright. Along with Robertson, the most quotable player at Melbourne.

Back in April, McLean at the ripe old age of 21, admitted the Demons had a habit of getting too comfortable and letting supporters down.

"That's been a big thing for the Melbourne footy club for 10 or 15 years and it's something I really want to eradicate," McLean said. Cop that.

MEMBER POPULARITY (10)

WHEN McLean emerged from the bench in his comeback game against the Kangaroos in Round 9, he sparked the loudest cheer from the members for weeks. You'd swear Robbie Flower had made a shock comeback. The faithful love the guy.

The evidence is compelling. McLean is the obvious choice, whoever coaches the Demons next year.

With Neitz out on Friday night against the Tigers, McLean is in line to toss the coin for the first time.

One toss down, 10 years' worth to come.

 

[demonfan9]

Great article that.

I think Neitz still has one more in him, barring he remains fit and healthy. After that, McLean is the number one candidate.

 

[Bartram_Class]

Great article and couldn't be more true. I think most supporters on here have wanted this for a while now so it won't come as a surprise call.

Love this line - "It was as if McLean couldn't wait to obliterate the banner".

 

[Brock McLean for PM]

I agree Bartram Class!

This is my fave line: "And Champion Data rankings confirm McLean is an elite player, not far short of Chris Judd for impact."

 

[dutchy12]

That brings a smile to my face that article. I don't think some people reallise how good he is that statistic where for time on ground he is most effective could not be more true. I love the part where he goes "There is daylight to third",

 

[Marns]

"McLean could not wait for war."

Now that's what I'm talking about.

 

[master bate]

Great article but I would still have Neitz as captain next year. I want to see Brock play a year out injury free and become a true star - at the moment he is one step below, he needs to be on the park more to be in the best 5- 10 players in the league then he can become captain.

 

[dutchy12]

Great article but I would still have Neitz as captain next year. I want to see Brock play a year out injury free and become a true star - at the moment he is one step below, he needs to be on the park more to be in the best 5- 10 players in the league then he can become captain.

I totally agree acutally. One more year and then have him in there, needs to string more than 20 games together and become the star we all know he aldready is

 

[davey_magik]

Great article but I would still have Neitz as captain next year. I want to see Brock play a year out injury free and become a true star - at the moment he is one step below, he needs to be on the park more to be in the best 5- 10 players in the league then he can become captain.

Agree again, would like to give Neita one more year.
I know I harp on about this but the scariest thing about McLean is Sylvia could be even better.

 

[dutchy12]

Sylvia the next Brad Johnson

 

[Leper Messiah]

That article just made my day!

im not opposed to either decision, id still like to see neita still skip but mclean being captain would even increase his intensity even more.

 

[Bartram_Class]

Great article but I would still have Neitz as captain next year. I want to see Brock play a year out injury free and become a true star - at the moment he is one step below, he needs to be on the park more to be in the best 5- 10 players in the league then he can become captain.

Your point is invalid when you consider Neitz was never a true "star" and that Neitz himself struggles to play out a year. Take the weight of captaincy off David's shoulders and let him concentrate on his main job, kicking goals.

I would be disappointed if McLean wasn't made captain for '08.

 

[StingaArmstrong]

The guys a born leader, and when he's on the park he's at that elite level. He's proved he can be fit enough...his foot injury was an accident, and didn't come from poor preparation.

It's not as though Neitz wouldn't still be an on and off field general anyway...look at how Hird is going.

Brock for skipper in 2008.

 

[master bate]

Your point is invalid when you consider Neitz was never a true "star" and that Neitz himself struggles to play out a year. Take the weight of captaincy off David's shoulders and let him concentrate on his main job, kicking goals.

I would be disappointed if McLean wasn't made captain for '08.

Your right Neitz was never a true star but my point was to let Brock reach his potential before giving him the captaincy, and it is true that David does struggle to play a whole season but I'd rather him struggling than Brock.

I wouldn't be disappointed to see Brock made captain but from a distance and with half a season left I'd wait until '09. I'd have Neitz captain and Brock as the sole vice captain with Robbo, Green and Bruce and others in the leadership group.

 

[Goffa]

Brock Mclean.

Sorry, it just feels good to type it. The name has become a mantra for a lot of Demons supporters already.

One thing that fascinates me is his brownlow record - already a handy 18 votes after 50 games, but here's the strange part - in his career he has only received brownlow votes six times, and all six have been the full three votes.
I have trouble understanding that little quirk, because he's played a number of very good games as well as those six (seven, throw in the final against St. Kilda) absolute blinders.
Umpires are a strange mob, I guess.

Brock Mclean.

Try it, it's good.

 

[master bate]

Queens Birthday might change his brownlow history, will be hard to go passed robbo for the 3

 

[StingaArmstrong]

Brock Mclean...

I wonder if he goes around saying it like Deni Crane says his (i'm sure Boston Legal fans will understand me). If he doesn't, he should.

 

[master bate]

Wouldn't you like to have cigars and drink scotch with "Brock McLean".

 

[AllStar7]

Brock Mclean...

I wonder if he goes around saying it like Deni Crane says his (i'm sure Boston Legal fans will understand me). If he doesn't, he should.

Or maybe 007... The name is McLean... Brock McLean!

What a legend the man is. Turning matches of football, and all straight man gay.

 

[the russian40]

What a legend the man is. Turning matches of football, and all straight man gay.

Im definately straight but totally in love with Brock!

 

[Marns]

Wouldn't you like to have cigars and drink scotch with "Brock McLean".

Only if he had an apple and gatorade instead.