Co-Captains. WHY?

[Strapping Young Lad]

 

[unitedhawk2]

My partner and I have had a co-captains model at home for years and it’s working beautifully!

Can’t see why it wouldn’t work at Hawthorn. Hasn’t done the Lions any harm, as several posters have already pointed out…

 

[Bedi]

Still not entirely across this, but in answer to the OP's question does anyone have an answer other than why not? Not necessarily against it, but am wondering why we've gone down this route. Do we think Sicily was involved in the decision, or did come down to purely player's vote?

 

[ReturningHawk]

My answer to your question is: because Sam Mitchell has ticked it off as something that will help the club. This coach has steered us from North levels of irrelevance to flag contention in a timeframe that is barely believable. I can recall back in 2022 reading a poster saying we could win the flag by 2025, and I thought they were deluded. We were is such a deeply unenviable position of a club divided by the racism saga, rifts at board level and a playing list that was paying the price for years of de-prioritising the draft and development. Yet Sam has consistently made bold moves with staff and player recruitment, created club stability, squeezed every drop of performance out of the playing group and inside 3 years has built the fanbase to record levels with the team primed for a third crack at a deep finals run.

At this point, if you're questioning Sam's instincts for leadership, I just don't see how that's possible.

 

[Changa10]

Well, we should never lose another coin toss when we are calling. Sic can calls heads and Newc can call tails

 

[killerspud]

I love it.

Team first decision that gives us more leadership on the ground and spreads the load off it.

Even when there is one captain there's usually someone else doing some of the heavy lifting. Judd was captain of the eagles 2006 flag but Cousins was just as much a leader on the field (these guys get tags like spiritual leader)

Jai is awesome and will be awesome in the role..Sicily hasnt been a bad captain but I feel this will help his game.

There are some people here stuck in the past. If you dont move with the times you get left behind

 

[Yardie]

My answer to your question is: because Sam Mitchell has ticked it off as something that will help the club. This coach has steered us from North levels of irrelevance to flag contention in a timeframe that is barely believable. I can recall back in 2022 reading a poster saying we could win the flag by 2025, and I thought they were deluded. We were is such a deeply unenviable position of a club divided by the racism saga, rifts at board level and a playing list that was paying the price for years of de-prioritising the draft and development. Yet Sam has consistently made bold moves with staff and player recruitment, created club stability, squeezed every drop of performance out of the playing group and inside 3 years has built the fanbase to record levels with the team primed for a third crack at a deep finals run.

At this point, if you're questioning Sam's instincts for leadership, I just don't see how that's possible.

We went down this path with Clarkson of drinking the bathwater (me included) and that ended in a mess. When we blindly follow people it becomes messy as we continue to try to justify their actions when we, deep down, know they are wrong.

I'm not saying the decision is wrong in this instance, just that I personally don't agree with it and have voiced my opinion. Which I'm sure the club isn't losing any sleep over.

But I'm not going to genuflect at the altar of Sam, and I'd expect that he wouldn't want me to either.

 

[killerspud]

We went down this path with Clarkson of drinking the bathwater (me included) and that ended in a mess. When we blindly follow people it becomes messy as we continue to try to justify their actions when we, deep down, know they are wrong.

I'm not saying the decision is wrong in this instance, just that I personally don't agree with it and have voiced my opinion. Which I'm sure the club isn't losing any sleep over.

But I'm not going to genuflect at the altar of Sam, and I'd expect that he wouldn't want me to either.

Difference is at the end Clarko was taking his own advice.

Sam is a modern leader spending time learning and researching the best ways of doing things. Sam pushes outside his personal comfort zone to embrace better ways of doing things.

I need to hear solid arguments about why 2 captains are bad and examples of how it doesn't work. As of now it seems to be the successful model

 

[Cleavy]

Still not entirely across this, but in answer to the OP's question does anyone have an answer other than why not? Not necessarily against it, but am wondering why we've gone down this route. Do we think Sicily was involved in the decision, or did come down to purely player's vote?

the way I see is that Siciliy is there because he's the man everyone looks up to/respects, but Nuke is there because he can be the direct spark to influence games.

 

[Coathanger]

Very disappointed with this.
Cocrap is for weak clubs who don’t have a strong standout choice.
The because someone else is doing it, is just 8yo’s thinking.
Unfortunately the very obvious next captain can’t stay on the park for more than
a quarter of the season.

 

[stevehawkington]

I like leadership from someone in the middle rather than one end of the ground regardless of two captains or Captain or Vice Captain. Never a fan of Stratton or Sic as Captain.
Newc can influence a game directly or reinforce things at key time in the ‘guts’
Maybe we go to Newc alone in 2027?

We're gonna be rolling thru new players in the mid rotation in 26. Having newk there making the calls on who we need and when in game is gonna be important for the season.

We've been lacking leadership in the guts this is a possible solution to it

 

[Leather Poisoning]

It's been a hell of a long time since I've been on the inside of a footy club - so I don't think I'm informed enough on what a good captaincy structure looks like. I don't know what the leadership workload is that needs to be spread around.

So I'm gonna refrain from having a strong opinion.

With Sicily as captain I never once thought "geez we should really get a co-captain here, something is missing".

But also - need to remember Mitchell's lived experience as captain and then stepping aside for Luke Hodge to be captain - maybe he thinks that transition could have been done better?

 

[Slainte]

Still not entirely across this, but in answer to the OP's question does anyone have an answer other than why not? Not necessarily against it, but am wondering why we've gone down this route. Do we think Sicily was involved in the decision, or did come down to purely player's vote?

If you scroll through this thread, you will see that posters have put up plenty of reasons, other than "why not". In summary they are:

1. To ease the burden (especially off-field), reducing distractions from game preparation.
2. Different people bring different leadership qualities and can each add value.
3. There is something to be said for having an on-ball player in a leadership role.
4. Co-captaincy is a good approach to succession planning - Sicily is in the last phase of his career whereas Newcombe is barely mid-career.
5. Brisbane has shown it does not impede on-field performance.

 

[ReturningHawk]

We went down this path with Clarkson of drinking the bathwater (me included) and that ended in a mess. When we blindly follow people it becomes messy as we continue to try to justify their actions when we, deep down, know they are wrong.

I'm not saying the decision is wrong in this instance, just that I personally don't agree with it and have voiced my opinion. Which I'm sure the club isn't losing any sleep over.

But I'm not going to genuflect at the altar of Sam, and I'd expect that he wouldn't want me to either.

It’s not about worshipping him, it’s about trusting in his instincts about the leadership of the club which haven’t been wrong yet. Why your first reaction is to think it will screw up our messaging is beyond me. Have the maturity to see past your own tastes and imagine that it could be a raging success, because it probably will be.

 

[Nugett]

I’m not a fan of co-captains.

There is an old saying that too many chefs spoil the broth.

The captain is the one that sets the standards. They are the public face.

They stand out because of their individual attributes. There is a reason why other sports only have 1 captain. Why business organisations have 1 leader to lead a team. It’s to set the team up to the same standard that is being set.

By having 2 captains, even if they both share the same end goal, you are relying on 2 individuals with different beliefs, perspectives and personalities that will convey different messages from time to time.

Hoping this only going to be short term experiment.

 

[ReturningHawk]

The captain is the one that sets the standards. They are the public face.

They stand out because of their individual attributes. There is a reason why other sports only have 1 captain. Why business organisations have 1 leader to lead a team. It’s to set the team up to the same standard that is being set.

By having 2 captains, even if they both share the same end goal, you are relying on 2 individuals with different beliefs, perspectives and personalities that will convey different messages from time to time.

Hoping this only going to be short term experiment.

It would all feel more compelling if the reigning back-to-back premiers didn't have two captains.

Get behind our leaders!

 

[Mr Meeseeks]

I said I don't care for co captains, but I honestly dont mind, a leader is a leader.

Cricket is the only sport where the skipper has a direct and defined influence on the match.