Opinion First Captain under Walsh?

[1970crow]

If there's any players "angry" or "upset" at Tex being named captain then those players can find a new club.

Tend to agree. The only person with a legit gripe would be VB. How many captains haven't handed it over on their own terms, at least publicly. So, I could understand him being a bit angry, not that I've heard he is. Once Walsh has decided VB's time was up, there was always going to be 2 disappointed legitimate contenders. They can't all be captain.

 

[FR0GGY]

If there's any players "angry" or "upset" at Tex being named captain then those players can find a new club.

I hear Aish and JC are unhappy

 

[JP Sauce]

I hear Aish and JC are unhappy

Mackay and Radar are FURIOUS too apparently.

 

[Elite Crow]

Mackay and Radar are FURIOUS too apparently.

Angus has apparently tweeted it's lucky he's not at the club anymore otherwise he would have lost it

 

[Pilchard_Adams]

Well, That fixed it.... Pilchard_Adams now has an "inny"

So inverted! possibly detached for further inny-ness

 

[Mismatched]

Must say I feel a bit for VB in all this.

Was sent up shit creek

Tend to agree. The only person with a legit gripe would be VB. How many captains haven't handed it over on their own terms, at least publicly. So, I could understand him being a bit angry, not that I've heard he is. Once Walsh has decided VB's time was up, there was always going to be 2 disappointed legitimate contenders. They can't all be captain.

At the end of the day, there was 4 blokes from the 6 who I think would have been gunning for the position, Thompson being too old and Talia being too young. I'm sure each of the other 4 would have been keen and would have been fighting tooth and nail for the job, I'd expect nothing less. However judging by the boys laughing in the background, Tex is absolutely loved by the playing group and no one would begrudge him the position.

I must say I loved the "authentic club" comment, we're no longer a club that exists to please the media. Under Fagan, Walsh and now Walker we're going to be a footy club. We're finally going to shake Craigy's choirboy image, an image that we failed to live up to.

Tex isn't there to perform in the media, he's there to lead a footy club and we're going to live up to the mantra "actions speak louder than words".

 

[Crowswest]

Well the new captains appointment is exactly as I predicted..... Except that Danger didn't get it and he hasn't as yet renewed his contract as yet.

So much for predictions

Fantastic news though and I reckon it's a inspired choice to really shake things up !!!

In Perth, Dangers contract speculation made the local news

 

[1970crow]

Must say I feel a bit for VB in all this.

Was sent up shit creek


At the end of the day, there was 4 blokes from the 6 who I think would have been gunning for the position, Thompson being too old and Talia being too young. I'm sure each of the other 4 would have been keen and would have been fighting tooth and nail for the job, I'd expect nothing less. However judging by the boys laughing in the background, Tex is absolutely loved by the playing group and no one would begrudge him the position.

I must say I loved the "authentic club" comment, we're no longer a club that exists to please the media. Under Fagan, Walsh and now Walker we're going to be a footy club. We're finally going to shake Craigy's choirboy image, an image that we failed to live up to.

Tex isn't there to perform in the media, he's there to lead a footy club and we're going to live up to the mantra "actions speak louder than words".

I think VB should have seen the writing on the wall. I'm a bit surprised that he didn't have a convo with Walsh to get a feel of where he was at. He should have resigned the captaincy to "concentrate on his body and own game" and gone out sprouting the generational change line. I'm surprised it happened the way it did and can't really understand why a captain of the club has effectively been terminated from his role. I can only assume that either him or Walsh wanted it this way, but why?

 

[Southerntakeover]

I think it's unfathomable that if vB had been given the message that he would not have fallen on his sword. Consummate club man.

Notwithstanding whether it was the correct choice, you'd be hard pressed to suggest that we couldn't have handled the decision better. 'Man conversation' or not.

 

[Mismatched]

I think it's unfathomable that if vB had been given the message that he would not have fallen on his sword. Consummate club man.

Notwithstanding whether it was the correct choice, you'd be hard pressed to suggest that we couldn't have handled the decision better. 'Man conversation' or not.

I think to an extent, it's to do with the "no spin" approach that is Walsh. I don't think he wants to start his tenure asking the old captain to "fall on his sword" when in actual fact he still wanted the job.

I think he wants to project the image that it was his decision, that it was a tough one, but that he was man enough to make it and that the players are man enough to take it, without asking takin an easy way out like asking the incumbent captain to "fall on his sword".

It might have been an "easier way out" but we're not about that. VB may have seen the writing on the wall, but chose to fight for it anyway.

If you're not prepared as coach to make the tough decisions and disappoint players, then your in the wrong business. Every week a coach has to pick and drop players, I'd hope every player at our club disagrees with the coaches decision to drop them, they should all believe in their ability to perform on game day and to turn around a form slump. However when they are dropped, they need to be able to move on and prove the coach wrong.

Make no mistake, Walsh is stamping his authority on this side and indicating that there are no "gold tickets", it's not about keeping everyone happy, it's about being the best.

 

[Donkey Magoo]

I think to an extent, it's to do with the "no spin" approach that is Walsh. I don't think he wants to start his tenure asking the old captain to "fall on his sword" when in actual fact he still wanted the job.

I think he wants to project the image that it was his decision, that it was a tough one, but that he was man enough to make it and that the players are man enough to take it, without asking takin an easy way out like asking the incumbent captain to "fall on his sword".

It might have been an "easier way out" but we're not about that. VB may have seen the writing on the wall, but chose to fight for it anyway.

If you're not prepared as coach to make the tough decisions and disappoint players, then your in the wrong business. Every week a coach has to pick and drop players, I'd hope every player at our club disagrees with the coaches decision to drop them, they should all believe in their ability to perform on game day and to turn around a form slump. However when they are dropped, they need to be able to move on and prove the coach wrong.

Make no mistake, Walsh is stamping his authority on this side and indicating that there are no "gold tickets", it's not about keeping everyone happy, it's about being the best.

Also, this was a break from the past, I don't feel that he had to resign, the position had already been vacated at the start of the ballot.

 

[1970crow]

I think it's unfathomable that if vB had been given the message that he would not have fallen on his sword. Consummate club man.

Notwithstanding whether it was the correct choice, you'd be hard pressed to suggest that we couldn't have handled the decision better. 'Man conversation' or not.

I'm just not sure. Outside of Carey, I'm struggling to think of a captain who wasn't provided the luxury of publicly resigning on their own terms. I guess it's still spin, but it's common to every club and is providing due respect to that person. Half the time I wouldn't even think it was spin. If VB had stepped down, I would of thought it was the right decision at the right time and especially for him coming back from 12 months out with injury. Injury, pre-injury form, generational change and 3 outstanding (4 inc Talia) candidates to choose from. It makes sense.

I think it's more unfathomable that VB wouldn't have been given the opportunity. Appointing the captain is a massive decision, effectively sacking the incumbent is rare. Whether he was led to believe he had a genuine shot and chose to take the punt, I don't know. One thing is certain though, it would have been a lot easier for Tex or anyone else elevated to that position for VB to have resigned from it at the end if last year. Those querying the lack of twitter, this is the reason why. It's not a purely positive story, it comes at a significant cost.

I'm just not sure who's responsible, I wonder whether VB may not be the consummate team man he's described as. I saw the writing on the wall, as did a lot of supporters here. And we don't have the luxury of rolling into Walsh's office and asking where we're at in his view.

 

[Southerntakeover]

I think to an extent, it's to do with the "no spin" approach that is Walsh. I don't think he wants to start his tenure asking the old captain to "fall on his sword" when in actual fact he still wanted the job.

I think he wants to project the image that it was his decision, that it was a tough one, but that he was man enough to make it and that the players are man enough to take it, without asking takin an easy way out like asking the incumbent captain to "fall on his sword".

It might have been an "easier way out" but we're not about that. VB may have seen the writing on the wall, but chose to fight for it anyway.

If you're not prepared as coach to make the tough decisions and disappoint players, then your in the wrong business. Every week a coach has to pick and drop players, I'd hope every player at our club disagrees with the coaches decision to drop them, they should all believe in their ability to perform on game day and to turn around a form slump. However when they are dropped, they need to be able to move on and prove the coach wrong.

Make no mistake, Walsh is stamping his authority on this side and indicating that there are no "gold tickets", it's not about keeping everyone happy, it's about being the best.

No, look, if that's why it was done it is stupid.

'Stamping authority' doesn't require the public humiliation of club veterans. There's more to coaching than dick measuring contests.

Note: I'm not saying that this was why it was done. I think it's actually rather implausible. It's more likely that it was just poorly handled rather than done by design.

 

[Elite Crow]

Who says it was poorly handled? What if VB was in the running up until he made his decision? Having VB step aside a day or 2 before Tex was announced would have been obvious "spin". There needed to be a decent gap in announcements for VBs stepping aside to have any credibility.

 

[Southerntakeover]

Who says it was poorly handled? What if VB was in the running up until he made his decision? Having VB step aside a day or 2 before Tex was announced would have been obvious "spin". There needed to be a decent gap in announcements for VBs stepping aside to have any credibility.

Is that what you think happened?

 

[Elite Crow]

Is that what you think happened?

I think lots of things doesn't mean they are correct.

None of us know how it went down so to suggest it was poorly handled is a guess.

Walsh may have wanted time to see if there was a better choice for Captain than VB before he made the change. Sure when he first met Tex he may have been swayed but seeing as he was new to the club I dare say the board would not have backed him in if he made a quick decision.

 

[Peter Doherty]

I think to an extent, it's to do with the "no spin" approach that is Walsh. I don't think he wants to start his tenure asking the old captain to "fall on his sword" when in actual fact he still wanted the job.

I think he wants to project the image that it was his decision, that it was a tough one, but that he was man enough to make it and that the players are man enough to take it, without asking takin an easy way out like asking the incumbent captain to "fall on his sword".

It might have been an "easier way out" but we're not about that. VB may have seen the writing on the wall, but chose to fight for it anyway.

If you're not prepared as coach to make the tough decisions and disappoint players, then your in the wrong business. Every week a coach has to pick and drop players, I'd hope every player at our club disagrees with the coaches decision to drop them, they should all believe in their ability to perform on game day and to turn around a form slump. However when they are dropped, they need to be able to move on and prove the coach wrong.

Make no mistake, Walsh is stamping his authority on this side and indicating that there are no "gold tickets", it's not about keeping everyone happy, it's about being the best.

You've articulated this beautifully. Sad it's gone over other people's heads.

 

[StonesThrow]

Lots of speculation over choosing a new captain. I don't know why.

 

[NikkiNoo]

Lots of speculation over choosing a new captain. I don't know why.

Are there any games happening at the moment?

 

[Elite Crow]

Are there any games happening at the moment?

Mind games

 

[Allefgib]

I think it's unfathomable that if vB had been given the message that he would not have fallen on his sword. Consummate club man.

Notwithstanding whether it was the correct choice, you'd be hard pressed to suggest that we couldn't have handled the decision better. 'Man conversation' or not.

For mine the messages were fairly explicit early in Walsh's tenure. He wanted a captain that primarily delivered on game day. He was clearly setting us up for a change in perception with the past. That's not to say VB can't deliver on gameday (although given last year, his spot in the best 22 is not beyond doubt at this point).
I don't think any falling on swords was required. Everything has change, there was no need, or obligation, to maintain gameplans, principles, leaders of the past. It was all done with a clean slate.

What do you think we should have done differently?

 

[MonkeyMagik]

Weird article in The Age from someone who obviously has never watched a Crows game

http://www.theage.com.au/afl/adelai...ave-turned-to-tex-walker-20150114-12o121.html

The description of past captains seems off. Roo and McDermotts main attributes were mainly there toughness and Tex has some of that in his game. I don't know anyone who would describe VB as "silky skilled"... his spot as captain was mainly his ability to convey the coaches message to the rest of the team... much like Bickley (you'd probably call them coaches pets).

VB probably deserved another year and I reckon they would have given Tahlia a good hard look. But in the end Tex is the right choice. I see him as very similar to Kernahan captaining Carlton (who also doesn't come off as smart in the media as he is).

He needs to work on his body language in the media though... if you watch the presser without any sound you'd think he's explaining how he got in trouble on a bender at the races. On field he's all captain though.

 

[Bay62]

I think there's some credibility to the idea that VB should have been given a chance to "resign" - even if that does amount to spin of some sort.

The thing that surprised me though - and please correct me if I've missed it - is that there has been no public acknowledgment of VBs contribution as captain. No "VBs done a great job and now we thought we needed a new captain for a new era."

That's not spin, it's respect. Especially when the announcement of the new captain is accompanied by words like "no more spin" and "actions will speak louder than words" and "authentic" - you have to publicly thank the previous captain to defuse the possible implication that he was all about spin, words and inauthenticity.

I'm just surprised they haven't done more

 

[1970crow]

Lots of speculation over choosing a new captain. I don't know why.

The AFL industry doesn't normally stand down the captain in favour of another player. The standard method is that the incumbent resigns siting various logical reasons. Which VB had plenty of, but the club chose to go down a different path. Whilst not saying it isn't a valid method, it most certainly isn't what normally occurs when dealing with captaincy changes.

 

[1970crow]

I think there's some credibility to the idea that VB should have been given a chance to "resign" - even if that does amount to spin of some sort.

The thing that surprised me though - and please correct me if I've missed it - is that there has been no public acknowledgment of VBs contribution as captain. No "VBs done a great job and now we thought we needed a new captain for a new era."

That's not spin, it's respect. Especially when the announcement of the new captain is accompanied by words like "no more spin" and "actions will speak louder than words" and "authentic" - you have to publicly thank the previous captain to defuse the possible implication that he was all about spin, words and inauthenticity.

I'm just surprised they haven't done more

I'm a conspiracy theorist, not moon landing/martin Bryant stuff, but I like to read into things a bit. There's a chance, however small, that VB isn't the perfect team first person that he is described as. He may have been told that it's highly likely he wouldn't be captaining in 2015 and offered the opportunity to resign citing quite reasonable factors - returning from injury, 2013 not the best year so concentrating on own game, generational change with outstanding candidates, still a leader etc. Those factors are not 'spin', they are real and relevant to VB's ability to captain the team, potentially from the 2's. Maybe VB refused to resign the position forcing the issue to be handled in the way it was. I would find it hard to believe that it wasn't clear to Walsh etc that VB wasn't going to captain in 2015 and wasn't afforded the opportunity to step down sometime before Xmas.