I am genuinely excited about what our club can do next year. The burden is gone. We have developed a bunch of kids and have pick 1, 19 and probably 27 going into this draft. On top of this we have half a spine, a ruckman, a gun young mid, a quick mid and three big bodied mids returning. While they may have some mental demons remaining and have lost some condition not playing their suspension is over early enough that they will have 5 months to work through all of that and be cherry ripe come round 1. The team also has months over preseason to find a way to play together.
I almost expect something like we saw in the early years of Hird/Thompson with a fast start to the season and the sense of a wakening giant (our supporter base) to energise the players. Then as the long season drags on many of the young stars will probably fade a bit. Of course we should not forget what a soft draw we'll get after finishing bottom. That will mean two games against Carlton, Brisbane and Gold Coast and the way they are rebuilding I don't expect them to be much better than this year. Who knows how high we could finish if managed right.
Anyway that isn't the main point of this post, though an important background story. On field leadership is a big part of how we manage this, and the title gives away where I'm heading. I really hope Watson is back to go along with Stanton, Goddard and maybe Kelly as elder statesmen of the team. Having said that I hope that they are not given any official leadership. Let them be someone that players go to when they need but also allow them the time to manage their ageing bodies and keep mentally fresh with a good work/life balance.
So why co-captains? Partly because Heppell is probably anointed as next captain by most but I think is not 100% ready right now, especially with the year out. In modern footy on field structure is such an important thing and we also see teams break into three at each break in the game and discuss their third of the ground. So I'd like a captain from each of these sections. With Hooker playing forward I propose that he along with Heppell and Hurley will make up the awesome triple H captaincy.
Think about Heppell's leadership running through the middle of the ground. Do you all remember the story of him taking the 3 quarter time address for his u18 team in the prelim? You know the game he got 40+ possies and single handedly dragged an average side into the grand final? He starts in the centre square normally and his running alone is inspirational. He will lead the midfield even if some of the younger guns begin to outshine him he will always be the best leader I believe.
Think about Hurley hustling and bustling. He will be the man down their next year and while he's not normally in great voice he will be the one to set the agenda. Also Goddard and Kelly potentially floating down there can give support in that. I'd also have Baguely in the leadership group to assist him. Obviously he's not the natural leader as Hepp but with that support he'll grow into the role and the way he plays will have everyone down their walking a foot taller.
Hooker. I don't know about you but his signing was my best football moment this year. Cast your mind back to the Hawthorn win last year. Think about his tireless work up forward when we were struggling late in the year. Think about his voice out there and how much he cares about every contest in every game. Think about how he's been offered up for trade a few times and knocked it back and when the other clubs came knocking for him after all the bullshit this club put him through he still chose to remain here. I want him leading JD, Tippa and Laverde (all mad bomber fans) as well at Fanta pants in our forward line. If they fight for every contest, dive to smother and run themselves into the ground to harass and tackle like he does then taking a mark in or escaping from our forward line will be a nightmare for the opposition.
Finally after the horror show that has been the last few years I like the idea of three captains better representing the fact that we're still standing and only are because we've largely stuck together. That is the club and the team. In fact fans have stood up and increased our membership while players have also turned down lucrative offers to leave. Regards the rest of the leadership team I'd like to see Myers, Zaharakis and Baguley there. Not sure how big leadership teams are but if it's more I'd like to add Hocking, Zerrett and JD to the list.
I almost expect something like we saw in the early years of Hird/Thompson with a fast start to the season and the sense of a wakening giant (our supporter base) to energise the players. Then as the long season drags on many of the young stars will probably fade a bit. Of course we should not forget what a soft draw we'll get after finishing bottom. That will mean two games against Carlton, Brisbane and Gold Coast and the way they are rebuilding I don't expect them to be much better than this year. Who knows how high we could finish if managed right.
Anyway that isn't the main point of this post, though an important background story. On field leadership is a big part of how we manage this, and the title gives away where I'm heading. I really hope Watson is back to go along with Stanton, Goddard and maybe Kelly as elder statesmen of the team. Having said that I hope that they are not given any official leadership. Let them be someone that players go to when they need but also allow them the time to manage their ageing bodies and keep mentally fresh with a good work/life balance.
So why co-captains? Partly because Heppell is probably anointed as next captain by most but I think is not 100% ready right now, especially with the year out. In modern footy on field structure is such an important thing and we also see teams break into three at each break in the game and discuss their third of the ground. So I'd like a captain from each of these sections. With Hooker playing forward I propose that he along with Heppell and Hurley will make up the awesome triple H captaincy.
Think about Heppell's leadership running through the middle of the ground. Do you all remember the story of him taking the 3 quarter time address for his u18 team in the prelim? You know the game he got 40+ possies and single handedly dragged an average side into the grand final? He starts in the centre square normally and his running alone is inspirational. He will lead the midfield even if some of the younger guns begin to outshine him he will always be the best leader I believe.
Think about Hurley hustling and bustling. He will be the man down their next year and while he's not normally in great voice he will be the one to set the agenda. Also Goddard and Kelly potentially floating down there can give support in that. I'd also have Baguely in the leadership group to assist him. Obviously he's not the natural leader as Hepp but with that support he'll grow into the role and the way he plays will have everyone down their walking a foot taller.
Hooker. I don't know about you but his signing was my best football moment this year. Cast your mind back to the Hawthorn win last year. Think about his tireless work up forward when we were struggling late in the year. Think about his voice out there and how much he cares about every contest in every game. Think about how he's been offered up for trade a few times and knocked it back and when the other clubs came knocking for him after all the bullshit this club put him through he still chose to remain here. I want him leading JD, Tippa and Laverde (all mad bomber fans) as well at Fanta pants in our forward line. If they fight for every contest, dive to smother and run themselves into the ground to harass and tackle like he does then taking a mark in or escaping from our forward line will be a nightmare for the opposition.
Finally after the horror show that has been the last few years I like the idea of three captains better representing the fact that we're still standing and only are because we've largely stuck together. That is the club and the team. In fact fans have stood up and increased our membership while players have also turned down lucrative offers to leave. Regards the rest of the leadership team I'd like to see Myers, Zaharakis and Baguley there. Not sure how big leadership teams are but if it's more I'd like to add Hocking, Zerrett and JD to the list.
