Daniel Giansiricusa as captain - Where do you stand?

[The_Flying_Egg]

Geez another one for Boyd. Has anyone watched him this year?

Yes, yes people have

 

[ozdevil1978]

cooney or boyd for me!!!! gia is 2 soft and doesnt lead by example

 

[Borgsta]

He'll probably win our best and fairest.

Would show how far removed from reality our MC are.

 

[Borgsta]

Yes, yes people have

Cool so you noticed his opponent generally being the oppositions best player and his brilliant handball to Sch....I can't finish that sentence just yet. Its too early.

 

[Curly5]

I am not a massive fan of Gia but I do think the "behind closed doors" qualities are actually the most important when choosing a club captain.

I have no inside knowledge of how Gia comes across internally but the critieria for being club captain includes making draftees feel included in the club, challenging older players to do better, taking on the lion's share of the media work when representing the club, engaging with sponsors, being able to talk with board members, have a good line of communication with the coach etc, etc.

Now some of you will bemoan some of these criterion and claim "sponsors will be happy if we win a premiership" but these are the reasons why Nick Maxwell and Tom Harley were chosen ahead of far more talented team mates.

WWWombat makes a good point about creating independence not dependence. If Gia is the sort of person who builds confidence in the playing list, then he is the right person.

Clubs always go on about "leadership groups" - these guys are the ones who can lead on the field and the training track, Gia included, but the load of a captain includes a whole lot of non-football stuff that most players would hate to be involved in, not least because it means they can't think about their own game all the time.

I think the Club are in the best position to decide which player has ticked the most criteria boxes listed above - can't we just trust them to choose a good leader? Who knows, maybe the challenge of the captaincy may see Gia go to the next level like Harley and Maxwell did? He has as much talent as either of those guys, probably more.

I agree with this post. In case no one has noticed, the only 2 players who stood in for Johnno were Gia and Boyd. (Murphy maybe once). Eade has indicated that one of these two will most likely be the next captain. It has to be someone the players will respect, take notice of, and want for their leader. From all we've heard Gia and Boyd are the ones who fill these requirements.

Fair????????????

With all respect, we're not here to be fair we are here to win a premiership.

I'm singling him out because he has put his hand up to captain our club. If he is putting his hand up then I will compare him to the best going around and he simply doesn't add up, doesn't even come close. Our strong off field leader(ship) has not transfered onto the park and Gia is not the one who will do that, he has already proved this time again.

Clubs make mistakes, players are biased, it's time for the MC to pull rank and pick someone who can bring all of our off field qualities which we are the best in the league at, onto the filed which we are one of the worst in the league at.

Can anyone imagine Fantasia or Eade or anyone else overruling the players' choice, with maybe someone who might be uncomfortable in the role knowing he wasn't the first pick of his teammates? That would be great way to go into the new season. We respect quite a few of our players and could see them as captain, but it's the team that has to be united behind the choice.

 

[boydsno1]

Gia is a player who gave up his game to help the team during the finals and is being punished for it by fans. We all agree that gia is better up the ground. You carn't fault him for being deep in a pocket and the ball he receives. People are also quick to forget the 3 important goals he kicked in the swans in a semi. Or do semi final games not count as being important anymore?

I want and welcome gia to be our captain.

 

[gimp!]

Great captains are inspirational.

Steve Wallis - inspirational

Scott Wynd - inspirational

Brad Johnson - inspirational

Chris Grant - inspirational

Doug Hawkins - inspirational

Ted Whitten - inspirational

Despite his injured back, when I saw Dale Morris crash into pack after pack against the Saints, the hair stood up on the back of my neck - that is leadership, that is captaincy material.

Yeah, they all may have been inspirational...but how many premierships were won by those guys? In my opinion it's all overrated, and most are being way too harsh on Gia. It's hard to sit in a pocket you know. When he plays up the ground, he is great.

 

[Mo7]

Probably too young at the moment, but I would love to see Shaun Higgins as captain in the not too distant future. If you have watched him on the field he is constantly shouting directions to team members. At Barwon Bulldog functions, he has easily taken charge of the players who attend giving instructions and generally running the show.
Bill Davoren mentioned last year that Shaun will definitely be a future captain.
Let's hope he can keep injury and illness free next year so he can display his potential.
In the meantime - Matthew Boyd for me.

 

[Gooka]

Great captains are inspirational.

Steve Wallis - inspirational

Scott Wynd - inspirational

Brad Johnson - inspirational

Chris Grant - inspirational

Doug Hawkins - inspirational

Ted Whitten - inspirational

Despite his injured back, when I saw Dale Morris crash into pack after pack against the Saints, the hair stood up on the back of my neck - that is leadership, that is captaincy material.

I actually don't think Johno was a good captain. Best of what we had on offer maybe. And the choice between Gia/Boyd/Murph looks a similar situation. Would rather none of them but can't see anyone else being appointed. The leadership gulf looks set to continue. And until that changes we won't have success IMO.

 

[gimp!]

I actually don't think Johno was a good captain. Best of what we had on offer maybe. And the choice between Gia/Boyd/Murph looks a similar situation. Would rather none of them but can't see anyone else being appointed. The leadership gulf looks set to continue. And until that changes we won't have success IMO.

Johnno was such a good captain that he was in fact awarded the All Australian captaincy in 2006. He was also such a good captain that players continually came out and publicly supported him. In fact I don't know how you can say he wasn't a good captain in the first place? If it is based on this year, then you are foolish to forget how good he was. Johnno played above his weight for years for the team, and did it brilliantly. He has always put the team first.

 

[willingnable]

I am surprised no one has mentioned ryan griffen as captain material. The way I see it is that this is guy that seems to always step up come finals time that leads me to think if he was captain he would step up as a player even more so. Anyway thats my 2 cents worth.

 

[Power King]

From an outside perspective, if given the captaincy, gia would seem to get it for his srevice over the years to the club, rather than being the outright best captain material overall.

not a troll

 

[Borgsta]

Nah that is a fair comment pf

 

[_Mike_]

Gia isnt my choice for Captain, but considering the available pool there aren't too many other options right now.. Cooney/Griff are probably still 2 years off it. Boyd or Morris would be the others ranked.

 

[Batman]

Gia isnt my choice for Captain, but considering the available pool there aren't too many other options right now.. Cooney/Griff are probably still 2 years off it. Boyd or Morris would be the others ranked.

Agree with this options are limited. I believe if Higgins had of been fit and firing, the club had earmarked him to take on the role.

The debate about the captain spot says a lot about the team really. No one really stands out as an onfield leader, and Eade's words when he took the club over to the effect that there was too little ego rings true.

Problem with Gia is that like about half of a team full of over 28 year old players, he will get slower, the game will get quicker, and he will get left behind - will the team if he is captain??

 

[geoffjennings79]

If my memory serves me correctly, Ryan Griffen was captain of the South Australian U18 side the year he was drafted. Not necessarily a guarantee that a player will make a future leader, but combined with his performances in finals (the Qualifying this year he was doubtful, yet was far and away our best player) show he is a big occasion player. I just wonder what regard he is held in amongst the playing group. Appointed captain in the next year or two, and he could be the leader for many years (as much as it pains me to say it, in the vein of Nathan Buckley). I would love to know (1) how vocal he is out on the ground - and I don't mean how loud, but how directive/encouraging/strategic. and (2) whether he has much to say "behind closed doors". Personally, and it's only a "vibe", I think he could be a long-term prospect.

 

[SCRAY72]

Players that should be considered before Gia.In no particular order.

Morris
Cooney
Boyd
Murphy
Cross
Lake
Griffen
Ward
Higgins

Volunteering is not enough,you need to inspire.Club needs to get this right.

 

[LondonBulldog]

If we are to improve and take the next step next year as we are all hoping for....

Then Gia is a fringe/back up player next year and should struggle to get a game.

If he is captain. Well the club is heading in the wrong direction.

80% on bulldog supporters can see this. Not sure the coach and MC can?

 

[jeemak]

If we are to improve and take the next step next year as we are all hoping for....

Then Gia is a fringe/back up player next year and should struggle to get a game.

If he is captain. Well the club is heading in the wrong direction.

80% on bulldog supporters can see this. Not sure the coach and MC can?

Gia is a starting 22 player, not a fringe player. The guy has to play closer to goal than he should be playing due to deficiencies we have in terms of genuine forward pocket players. His performance when playing close to goal is directly linked to how well we win the ball and provide our forwards with clean opportunities. The reason he struggles against the top teams isn't because he doesn't have ability, or because he doesn't work hard, it's mainly due to our midfield being beaten and our backs being stopped from moving the ball efficiently.

Gia plays the second hardest position on the ground, behind a genuine CHF. It's easy to beat up on him, but marked tightly forward pockets are always up against it.

Whether or not that means he can't be captain I'm not sure, but as I've said in other posts, all other candidates have defficiencies that affect the teams performance just as much as Gia's do.

I'd be happy to see Cooney get the gig. He's a good long term option, and I'd really love to see a player who is due to enter his prime take the responsibility on for at least a five year period. Whether or not you think our premiership chances are immediate, or over the next five or so years, Cooney is a player that can lead us continually throughout. He has the game breaking ability and smarts to get the job done too. He is also a good performer in the media, and despite his laconic persona is clearly responsible off the field.

 

[Dancing Dougy]

Take a second to think about the effect Gia (or to be frank anyone of his ilk) as captain will have upon the team... Positive... possibly... Negative... Possibly... Dramatic... Hardly! As previously mentioned, appointing Gia will be a progression leading to nowhere in particular, a safe option, a typical option, an option which will not lead us anywhere, up or down.

Then take a second to think about the effect of appointing a Griffen or a Ward. It will show the Bulldog faithful, the club is heading into a new, youthful, fresh and revitalised phase, not rehashing the past. They may not initially have the most experience, but it will be a step towards a new future, a future which hasn't been tainted by past failures. Where supporters and players alike can look forward to the input from players like Ward, Wood, Williams, Wallis, Liberatore, Roughead, Cordy, Jones, Everitt, Griffen, Cooney, Grant, Higgins, Hooper, Howard, Picken & Reid.

I for one think we should be embracing the youth we have, not holding onto the past.

 

[Dancing Dougy]

Aaaah Double Post...

 

[d0gs]

As I know its been covered numerous times in the thread, but we need someone who is able to turn the game on their own merit, get in and under the packs and inspire their fellow team mates. I just don't think Gia has it in him to make such an impact compared to Cross, Boyd, Griffen, Picken, Morris.

My vote would go to either Cross or Picken. Based on the fact that when I watch them play footy at their intensity I have belief in them that they are putting in 100% for the club which inspires others. If they are not as vocal on the field or in the public eye, so what. That will come with maturity.

If Gia gets it, I will be VERY surprised and also shocked at the decision, and would want extensive reasoning for doing so.

 

[Gooka]

Johnno was such a good captain that he was in fact awarded the All Australian captaincy in 2006. He was also such a good captain that players continually came out and publicly supported him. In fact I don't know how you can say he wasn't a good captain in the first place? If it is based on this year, then you are foolish to forget how good he was. Johnno played above his weight for years for the team, and did it brilliantly. He has always put the team first.

All of this was because he was a good player and great bloke. Not because of his captaincy.

Dont want to derail the thread though. Gia shouldn't be considered. Maybe we should have a few captains to reinforce noone is really worthy as an individual!?

 

[gimp!]

All of this was because he was a good player and great bloke. Not because of his captaincy.

Dont want to derail the thread though. Gia shouldn't be considered. Maybe we should have a few captains to reinforce noone is really worthy as an individual!?

Ha ha, you don't think that these things contribute to him being a good captain? I will have to side with the players actually playing at the Bulldogs on this particular matter.

 

[Bulldogsnm1]

Don't understand the talk about Callan Ward He's got great potential and is fearless, but he's also played about 10 good games ever[/quote]

The fact that Ward has played well in 5 finals games is testimate to his leadership, that on the back of a groin and hip that has already meant surgery.

Interesting if Morris & Ward were the leaders this year we would in all likelihood have had Aka in the finals.

Certainly the power base within the club would have changed.

Boyd = Ling of 2006, got too far ahead of himself and was more worried about stats than opposition. Geelong pulled Ling into line and changed his role, for the next 3 years he became the best tagger in the game. It will be interesting if Eade can do the same to one of his favourites.

However for captain next year I would go with either Griffin or Cooney with Cross a vice captain.