Goodwin Captain

[Markthirtytwo]

Well done Goody you deserved it. Only logical choice in such a period in our club's short history.

 

[swanfan]

Well done Goody you deserved it. Only logical choice in such a period in our club's short history.

I agree. Goodwin still has another 2-3 years and will allow for an easier transition for the captain-in-waiting after Goodwin retires.

 

[Stiffy_18]

This likely to be controversial but I think Van Berlo's elevation to the leadership group is premature. He might be a future captain but has he really earned it yet? 2 and a bit years of senior football, about 50 games, I cant recall more than 1 really outstanding one (v Chad Cornes last showdown)

2 things

1. I think on performance we vastly overrate him. I think he will be a good AFL players, play 200 games but there are many 21 year olds of similar quality in the AFL. I'm all for him becoming a star don't get me wrong, but he is a long way off that yet. Knights better in 07 (in a different role)

2. I know Scott Thompson made a mistake in the off season (Goody's made 1 or 2 also) but he demonstrated great on field leadership in 07, 18 Brownlow votes, miles ahead of VB for mine as a leader

I happen to disagree here a bit. It appears you are rating vB's leadership qualities based on how well he performs in the games. I see it differently. If you go back to 2006, I think it was round 3 or 4 against Melbourne at Gold Coast. Nathan van Berlo had about 7-8 possesions for the game but his last quarter in terms of pure leadership was as good as I have seen from a young kid. That would have been his 15th AFL game at most. It was his heroic efforts in putting his body on the line numerous times that got us a win in the end. He had about 5-6 contests where he didn't win a touch but his work allowed us to get a much needed clearence or a possesion.

Then there is that game against Brisbane were he breaks his collarbone in a clash with Roe but gets up, wins the footy and fires out a handball to a team mate before walking off. Its these sort of actions along with his voice in the game that has excited everyone about this young man's leadership qualities. He will never be the type of player that Roo has been but he will be one hell of a leader of man because the players will respect him and they will lift when he puts himself on the line for the good of the team.

Mark Bickley never really got the deserved accolades as a player outside of our club but he has been one of the finest leaders this club has had. Nathan van Berlo is very much in a similar fashion. From the younger players of our club, van Berlo is miles ahead of anyone in terms of leadership ability. He might not get it 30 times a game and he might not be flashy player but he would be the first one I would into the battle because I would know that he will NEVER let me down and he will ALWAYS have my back no matter what happens. When you see inspirational pieces of play by this kid in the elarly games of his career you know you have something special on your hands in terms of leadership.

I think he has exactly the type of attributes that you want in a leader. You only need to follow him closely in the game or at training and you see a kid that leads by example with his actions, barks out instructions to his team mates, enoucrages them all the time and off field, you have a fine young man that should be a role model to everyone and he handles himself exceptionally well in the media. His inclusion into the leadership group will allow him to grow and develop as a leader and step into the job in 2 years time with no hassle.

 

[Stiffy_18]

yes the players voted for it, doesnt make it right. Mcleod not there yet a great leader, captain of the All Stars, All Australian captain, perhaps the best Aboriginal player ever and still playing great football. Why not? How could VB be ahead of him on anything except he is younger. But you should earn this honour

As for B&F bit rich to use that as a definite measure dont you think?

Re other comments, I agree Bickley good example but he was about 27 years old when appointed. If your captain is not in your best 5 (VB isnt yet, might not ever be... hope he is one day) it creates trouble Adcock, Taylor in cricket, Richie V from day 1

What has Thommo done wrong apart from one off field incident? Havent Goody, Edwards etc had their issues off field? He seems a natural leader for mine

Yes Goodwin has had off field incidents but he has been able to learn from it and win the trust of his peers back. Thompson hasn't had a chance to do that yet. If he learns from his stuff up and makes all the right moves next season, he is a big chance for leadership honor in 2009.

And sorry but anyone even suggesting that vB is not in the best 22 is kidding themselves. This is the kid that was called straight back into the side after having 6 weeks off with a broken collarbone. A side that was top 2 that year and a kid with some 20 odd AFL games.

As for McLeod, people need to realise that McLeod took himself out of the running for leadership role.

 

[Stiffy_18]

Firstly congrats to Simon, but I dont honestly see the logic behind giving a 31 year old the captaincy I was hoping the Tony McGuinness token gesture captaincy was a once off.

I just get confused when the club makes a comment that they are now looking into the future, yet they appoint Goodwin as captain who has 1-2 seasons of good footy left in him.

I think its a logical choice.

The amount of chance that our club has gone through the last 12 months is rather staggering. The club is truly in transition. It got younger, lost some good players and leaders in Roo and Torney and there are rocky times ahead.

I think in the transition period with so much change around, it is absolutly imperative to have an old experienced head to lead you into the next couple of years. Someone who has experienced both the lows and the highs, someone who knows what it takes to get to the top and someone that knows how to get through the bad times. That someone at our club is Goodwin. It was FAR from a token gesture. It was about being a club that doesn't want to dwell down the bottom for long. The club that doesn't want to self destruct and the club that wants its experienced players to show the way to the promising youngsters. With that approach, the only logical choice for the captain was Goodwin.

Some might put up an argument for Rutten but as great as he is, as a leader he is pretty much unknown. He has proven much in that area. He is also someone that hasn't experienced the highs and lows of a team. Goodwin has a much greater experience to draw on and I think that is absolutly needed in these transitional times for the club.

 

[jarmanagic]

Yes Goodwin has had off field incidents but he has been able to learn from it and win the trust of his peers back. Thompson hasn't had a chance to do that yet. If he learns from his stuff up and makes all the right moves next season, he is a big chance for leadership honor in 2009.

And sorry but anyone even suggesting that vB is not in the best 22 is kidding themselves. This is the kid that was called straight back into the side after having 6 weeks off with a broken collarbone. A side that was top 2 that year and a kid with some 20 odd AFL games.

As for McLeod, people need to realise that McLeod took himself out of the running for leadership role.

I agree with most you say. He is clearly in our best 22. However (and the players decided) Thommo not being ahead of him intrigues me. I would have thought he would have to be (3-4 years older and clearly a better player at the moment) I hope we are not getting to precious about off field incidents that don't matter that much

Ponting
Carey
Warne
Barry Hall
Goodwin

all high quality leaders with off field challenges (Carey's more of a problem than the others) Actions on the field a key part of leadership

Overall I think VB is a good and emerging leader

But so far I think Crows fans way underate Thompson as a player (some clangers sure but he had a superb year) and way overrate VB as a player so far (yes making good progress, but the hype>>> performance so far)

 

[NikkiNoo]

I agree with most you say. He is clearly in our best 22. However (and the players decided) Thommo not being ahead of him intrigues me. I would have thought he would have to be (3-4 years older and clearly a better player at the moment) I hope we are not getting to precious about off field incidents that don't matter that much

Ponting
Carey
Warne
Barry Hall
Goodwin

all high quality leaders with off field challenges (Carey's more of a problem than the others) Actions on the field a key part of leadership

Overall I think VB is a good and emerging leader

But so far I think Crows fans way underate Thompson as a player (some clangers sure but he had a superb year) and way overrate VB as a player so far (yes making good progress, but the hype>>> performance so far)

But Carey's off field problems only came to be a problem when he and his best mates wife decided to get a little 'closer'. He had been captain for a very long time, and it forced him to leave the club and the captaincy, so I think using Carey as an example of you pushing off field being not so bad in relation to leadership, doesn't really help your argument.

Cricket has had many captains with serious off field issues, that most boards sweep under the carpet and don't want to know about it unless the media get hold of it. Again I wouldn't use those as examples. Hanse Cronje is one that springs to mind with a bad off field issue that meant he was no longer the captain.

What is Barry Hall's off field issues? I only know about his problems in relation to temper on the field.

 

[- PC -]

Cricket has had many captains with serious off field issues, that most boards sweep under the carpet and don't want to know about it unless the media get hold of it.

Ponting and transvestites