Tommyneu
Team Captain
Grand Old Hat
17/01/2008 10:31:17 AM
Ronny Lerner
Sportal
For a club that claims to be moving forward, and for all intents and purposes seems to be doing just that with its newly revamped football department, Melbourne has taken a giant step backwards.
The Demons unveiled their new-look seven-man leadership group at the Junction Oval on Thursday and some members of the media who attended the press conference would have been forgiven for thinking they were about to hear some retirement announcements.
David Neitz, who will most likely make an announcement of that kind within the next six months, revealed that he had decided to retain the captaincy for a ninth year, and that's fair enough.
bFrom a historical point of view, the club is embarking on its most significant season, so it only makes sense for its all-time games and goals record holder to lead the way in Melbourne's 150th year.
But, unfortunately for the Demons, that's just about where the logic stops when looking at the group of players that have been chosen to lead the way in 2008.
Assisting Neitz with leadership duties this year will be James McDonald, Adem Yze, Russell Robertson, Cameron Bruce, Brad Miller and Brock McLean.
The average age of this collection of players is a whopping 27.8 years and if you subtract Miller and McLean, it would rival the cast of Cocoon.
This was the chance for Melbourne to usher in a new era both off the field and on it. While succeeding with the first half of the task, it has failed miserably with the second in overlooking youngsters such as Nathan Jones (who is one of the faces on the club's website banner), Jared Rivers and Colin Sylvia as club leaders.
Richmond took the plunge earlier in the week by installing Chris Newman and young gun Nathan Foley as deputies to Kane Johnson and the Demons should have followed suit.
The fact that Melbourne's playing list was responsible for voting in the leadership group is a concession by the team that no leaders are coming through the ranks besides McLean, who will almost certainly replace Neitz when he eventually does pull the pin on his illustrious career.
And although the players were charged with selecting their leadership group, it still comes as a surprise to see the maligned Yze and Miller a part of it.
Yze has struggled to reach the dizzying heights that he displayed at the peak of his career in recent times and was seen to be fortunate to retain his spot on the list at the end of last year, let alone assume the title of 'club leader' for the following campaign.
And one wonders what impact the additional burden of being a leader will have on Miller who, at 24 years of age, is still yet to realise his potential as a player.
Neitz said he gets hurt by the constant criticism his club receives for its perceived lack of leadership, but what other conclusion is the public meant to draw when only two players from the Demons' 27-year-old-and-younger demographic (which makes up 80 per cent of the senior list) are selected as leaders?
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To an extent, I agree with this bloke. Why the hell is Miller in the leadership group? Sure it was the players' decision as to who was selected but you would think that the coaching staff would have some input, suggest a few names. On the other hand I think it would be foolish to appoint a youngster like Bate or Sylvia a leadership position, especially the latter. 2008 is a big year for the MFC and the group selected to lead us is full of experience...it would be a burden a young player (like Sylvia or Jones) doesn't need whilst trying to establish themselves as footballers in an already big year for the club. Thoughts?
17/01/2008 10:31:17 AM
Ronny Lerner
Sportal
For a club that claims to be moving forward, and for all intents and purposes seems to be doing just that with its newly revamped football department, Melbourne has taken a giant step backwards.
The Demons unveiled their new-look seven-man leadership group at the Junction Oval on Thursday and some members of the media who attended the press conference would have been forgiven for thinking they were about to hear some retirement announcements.
David Neitz, who will most likely make an announcement of that kind within the next six months, revealed that he had decided to retain the captaincy for a ninth year, and that's fair enough.
bFrom a historical point of view, the club is embarking on its most significant season, so it only makes sense for its all-time games and goals record holder to lead the way in Melbourne's 150th year.
But, unfortunately for the Demons, that's just about where the logic stops when looking at the group of players that have been chosen to lead the way in 2008.
Assisting Neitz with leadership duties this year will be James McDonald, Adem Yze, Russell Robertson, Cameron Bruce, Brad Miller and Brock McLean.
The average age of this collection of players is a whopping 27.8 years and if you subtract Miller and McLean, it would rival the cast of Cocoon.
This was the chance for Melbourne to usher in a new era both off the field and on it. While succeeding with the first half of the task, it has failed miserably with the second in overlooking youngsters such as Nathan Jones (who is one of the faces on the club's website banner), Jared Rivers and Colin Sylvia as club leaders.
Richmond took the plunge earlier in the week by installing Chris Newman and young gun Nathan Foley as deputies to Kane Johnson and the Demons should have followed suit.
The fact that Melbourne's playing list was responsible for voting in the leadership group is a concession by the team that no leaders are coming through the ranks besides McLean, who will almost certainly replace Neitz when he eventually does pull the pin on his illustrious career.
And although the players were charged with selecting their leadership group, it still comes as a surprise to see the maligned Yze and Miller a part of it.
Yze has struggled to reach the dizzying heights that he displayed at the peak of his career in recent times and was seen to be fortunate to retain his spot on the list at the end of last year, let alone assume the title of 'club leader' for the following campaign.
And one wonders what impact the additional burden of being a leader will have on Miller who, at 24 years of age, is still yet to realise his potential as a player.
Neitz said he gets hurt by the constant criticism his club receives for its perceived lack of leadership, but what other conclusion is the public meant to draw when only two players from the Demons' 27-year-old-and-younger demographic (which makes up 80 per cent of the senior list) are selected as leaders?
----------------------------------------------------------------------
To an extent, I agree with this bloke. Why the hell is Miller in the leadership group? Sure it was the players' decision as to who was selected but you would think that the coaching staff would have some input, suggest a few names. On the other hand I think it would be foolish to appoint a youngster like Bate or Sylvia a leadership position, especially the latter. 2008 is a big year for the MFC and the group selected to lead us is full of experience...it would be a burden a young player (like Sylvia or Jones) doesn't need whilst trying to establish themselves as footballers in an already big year for the club. Thoughts?
