Looking back - Harley as Captain

[cats2rise]

Many where not happy he was picked as captain as they thought he was past it, injury prone while Chapman should have been the obvious choice.

His injury in Round 1 only added to that, but I think Harleys hands going for a mark has been just as good as I can remember from Tom.

I think he should have been AA CHB in 2004, but bloody Cornes got it, and from what I can remember, he has been just as good over the past 6 or 7 weeks, especially in the past month.

He seems to talk to the players and has bridged the much talked about (in the media) gap between the coaching staff and players.

A very solid season from the captain, and I think the choice has been a great one looking back.

PS - SO much for King getting his body right without the burden of Captaincy.. Poor bloke.

 

[Duskfire]

I've always liked Harley and knew once he got a few weeks under his belt he would be good for us this year. However, I still don't think he is the best option for captain for the Cats. He is far from the worst mind you and has done an awesome job, but he doesn't have the commanding or influential presence that alot of other captains have. I am sure his off field work is awesome though.

 

[Hairy Cat Mooney]

Harley has done an awesome job this year as captain. After the first game against the Dogs people were calling for his head. Now I would not have anyone else but him leading this side.

He is a great leader out on the field, the main reason why he was chosen. But now he has found the form of 2 years ago when he was regarded as one of the best CHB's in the league. His game Corey Jones and Dale Thomas were the best I have ever seen him play.

 

[sarah.13]

Let's not forget that Harley put his hand up for the job when no-one else wanted a bar of it.
Speaks wonders for the character of the man.He is well spoken,has the support of the players and is a very good player.Was one of the inspired decisions made in the off-season.

 

[crosby123]

Has done a brilliant job.

 

[Shell]

Many where not happy he was picked as captain as they thought he was past it, injury prone while Chapman should have been the obvious choice.

His injury in Round 1 only added to that, but I think Harleys hands going for a mark has been just as good as I can remember from Tom.

I think he should have been AA CHB in 2004, but bloody Cornes got it, and from what I can remember, he has been just as good over the past 6 or 7 weeks, especially in the past month.

He seems to talk to the players and has bridged the much talked about (in the media) gap between the coaching staff and players.

A very solid season from the captain, and I think the choice has been a great one looking back.

PS - SO much for King getting his body right without the burden of Captaincy.. Poor bloke.

I'll be the first to put my hand up and admit I was one of those people o). IIRC, I wanted Chapman to be captain and Mooney as Vice or something along those lines.

Harls is a great leader, has gotten his body back on track (thank god) and is playing some very good football. (And isn't it great to see him back with his best buddy on the backline, Scarlo).

Well done Tom.

 

[Rustybugles]

I think the only reason people had reservations about him being captain was the possibility of another off-field role like King's in 2006 which was a complete fizzer. Harley is highly respected by players, officials and all the Cats supporters I know. Look at the level of involvement in the huddle when he's speaking to them. He is a great ambassador for the club and is nobody's fool as many idiot journalists have discovered. I hope he is a premiership captain!

 

[thegerman]

I think everyone on BigFooty thought early on that injuries were going to plague him for his whole captancy, however thankfully that wasn't the case.

What the club has gotten out of Harley being the Captain is someone who is really polished in his media skills and thought processes. Every answer he seems to give a journalist is well thought out.

He also proves it on the field also, since returning he has looked better and better as the weeks go by.

He rarely points the finger at other players too, which is something we were too common in doing last year. I like that about him. When he stuffs up he smashes his mouthguard into the deck, that is something I really like.

We were missing some great leadership last year, he has stepped up and filled that void.

 

[Dawn2Dark]

Harley is the perfect leader imo

 

[chapmanmagic35]

Best move ever. Was a dangerous one at the time though for no other reason than his injury prone body. By far the best leader at the club.

In great form too - I think there are a few people on this board with egg on their faces in terms of their thoughts on Harley holding a spot in the side (they know who they are).

 

[Solstice Raver]

Harles is a quite achiever. Doesn't seem the sort of bloke that requires accolades for his efforts, rather commands respect. Couldn't think of a better captain IMO in hindsight.

Great job to the leadership group as well this year. Without the inspiring and challenging words of some players in round 5 we would not be 3 games clear on top.

 

[Tonycam*]

Was a little unshore when he got the job , but I couldnt be happier now. The players seemed to be happy with him getting the job from the start, he is well respected by them all and seems to be born to be a leader , with a big shiny cup in his hand.

 

[Cohzee]

I was skeptical about Harley being appointed captain. Now, I think he's doing an awsome job.

****ing love his contested marking!

 

[hoody]

I wish I could say "I told you so".
But alas, like many other posters I was a non-believer.
In fact I was astounded that they could go from King to Harley.
Talk about injury prone!
They both make Mark Philappoussis look like superman.
Also like many others, I wasn't even all that sure that Tommy would even be in our best twenty-two.
How wrong can a man be?
Many aspects of the GFC have improved out of sight over the last 12 months.
The decision makers were right with this one and they have had a superb year to date.
That is probably the biggest surprise of all.

 

[chapmanmagic35]

I wish I could say "I told you so".
But alas, like many other posters I was a non-believer.
In fact I was astounded that they could go from King to Harley.
Talk about injury prone!
They both make Mark Philappoussis look like superman.
Also like many others, I wasn't even all that sure that Tommy would even be in our best twenty-two.
How wrong can a man be?
Many aspects of the GFC have improved out of sight over the last 12 months.
The decision makers were right with this one and they have had a superb year to date.
That is probably the biggest surprise of all.

Injury-wise, yes.

But 'The Scud' has a heart the size of a five cent coin.

 

[Ling Sting]

it looked early on that the captains curse would claim another victim but the big fella has gotten back and really deserves the role.

Ironically this time last year we were all scratching our heads as to who would be the best captain now any of the following I believe could step up: Chappy(was ready last year), GAjnr, Linga, Bartel, Mooney (no brain farts this year at all).

 

[bingle]

Terrific leading. i was wrapped he got given the job and had no doubt he'd be a great leader on the ground, such is his physical nature at the contest. hard tackler, AWESOME contested marker, great verbal leader on feild, terrific spokeman for the club, presents himself very well.
i'm not one to say i told you so as i've been wrong plenty of times before but this one i was sure on.
go Tommy!!!Dream of you beside Thompson holding the holy grail on the stage in a months time.

 

[Art Vandelay_]

 

[you pick one]

I'd love to know what Harley had to say when he pulled up the team in the race pre game Grand Final day 2007.Much underrated footballer and captain just got on with the job.

 

[dazbroncos]

I'd love to know what Harley had to say when he pulled up the team in the race pre game Grand Final day 2007.Much underrated footballer and captain just got on with the job.

and it never about Harls the player or Harls the Captain... it was about the team and getting the best out of the players in the team for the club.

Greatly underrated IMO and the legacy of his work still felt today

GO Catters

 

[cats_09]

dazbroncos may remember Krock asking the question pre-match about 4->6 weeks ago and it was really simply - "Best 3 recruits from another club"

Dangerfield, Ottens & Cameron were pretty common responses - very few said Harley, to the point that when I replied I think I was one of only 2 that mentioned him

No doubting what plenty of recruits have bought to the club from an on field perspective and the success that's come with him, but damn the influence & impact Harley had on this club, especially during his years as captain seems to be getting overlooked a bit in the decade+ since he's been gone

 

[jim boy]

dazbroncos may remember Krock asking the question pre-match about 4->6 weeks ago and it was really simply - "Best 3 recruits from another club"

Dangerfield, Ottens & Cameron were pretty common responses - very few said Harley, to the point that when I replied I think I was one of only 2 that mentioned him

No love for GAS?

 

[iameviljez]

Many where not happy he was picked as captain as they thought he was past it, injury prone while Chapman should have been the obvious choice.

I know this is retrospective, but this is NOTHING like my memory of 2007. It was always going to be one of Harley, King, or Ling.

 

[iameviljez]

dazbroncos may remember Krock asking the question pre-match about 4->6 weeks ago and it was really simply - "Best 3 recruits from another club"

Dangerfield, Ottens & Cameron were pretty common responses - very few said Harley, to the point that when I replied I think I was one of only 2 that mentioned him

No doubting what plenty of recruits have bought to the club from an on field perspective and the success that's come with him, but damn the influence & impact Harley had on this club, especially during his years as captain seems to be getting overlooked a bit in the decade+ since he's been gone

Agree, but it's always a lot harder (especially from the outside) to quantify the impact of a captain as a leader.

I would suspect, though, that it's also about the fact that almost nobody remembers Harley (or Mooney) as a Port / North Melbourne player.

 

[jim boy]

I know this is retrospective, but this is NOTHING like my memory of 2007. It was always going to be one of Harley, King, or Ling.

I thought the same, but you and I were wrong! One thing I did remember though was that the captaincy of Geelong was considered cursed - we had a bad history of captains suddenly getting injured when appointed captain.

I checked out a couple of old threads from 2006 - https://www.bigfooty.com/forum/threads/history-of-injured-captains.259086/ and https://www.bigfooty.com/forum/threads/mooney-should-be-captain-in-2007.249623/ A lot of love for Chappy, as well as Moons, Ling etc. Harley got a few mentions but was largely dismissed as being too injury-prone. Regardless Darren Forssman seems to have got it right (in reference to Harley):

at least he wont be able to inherit the captains injury curse. may do the opposite.