Nathan van Captain

[Macjoe]

He stood up when it mattered.

And when I watched the replay, despite a couple of clangers he was there in the first 3 quarters.

But enough banter - what I wanted to remind all of you who went to training sessions in the pre-season is that the first thing you saw was an injured VB running laps, and 2+hours later, when everyone else was packing up, there he was running laps.

Thats why, when everyone else wilted, VB stood up.

 

[Southerntakeover]

omfg

I prefer OMFVB.

 

[jenny61_99]

He stood up when it mattered.

And when I watched the replay, despite a couple of clangers he was there in the first 3 quarters.

But enough banter - what I wanted to remind all of you who went to training sessions in the pre-season is that the first thing you saw was an injured VB running laps, and 2+hours later, when everyone else was packing up, there he was running laps.

Thats why, when everyone else wilted, VB stood up.

Excellent point! Not only he did he run for 2 and a half hours in oppressive humidity up here, he then ran from Southport to the hotel at Broadbeach. The man is a machine!

 

[Slippery Pete]

Someone posted a thread last week asking "what is leadership?" Well, Van Berlo answered that question yesterday when he went back and iced the game with that exceptional goal. It was Ricciuto-like.

THAT's leadership, and I want to see more of that type of thing from him. I'm not quite convinced yet, but that certainly helped.

 

[Drugs Are Bad Mackay?]

I prefer OMFVB.

This board may become extremely silly if VB takes over the ship next season.

Imagine, having a captain that can reduce opponents to a pile of dust with his lazer beam eyes.

 

[rooboy]

Excellent point! Not only he did he run for 2 and a half hours in oppressive humidity up here, he then ran from Southport to the hotel at Broadbeach. The man is a machine!

Oppressive humidity my arse. It was 26 degrees and bugger all humidity.

And I reckon he was pretty much unsighted for three quarters, but did play a fine last quarter.

 

[Slippery Pete]

And I reckon he was pretty much unsighted for three quarters.

Moot point for mine - did what he had to do in the last minute of the game, to win the game. Can't ask for anything more than that from a skipper.

 

[Macjoe]

...training sessions in the pre-season ...

... Not only he did he run for 2 and a half hours in oppressive humidity up here, he then ran from Southport to the hotel at Broadbeach. The man is a machine!

Oppressive humidity my arse. It was 26 degrees and bugger all humidity...

Jenny was referring to the Crow's pre-season training camp in Queensland - she mentioned VB's effort at the time.

 

[rooboy]

If that's what Jenny was saying, I take it all back............with much 'umbleness.

 

[Smoooothy]

This board may become extremely silly if VB takes over the ship next season.

Imagine, having a captain that can reduce opponents to a pile of dust with his lazer beam eyes.

not to mention impregnate every woman in the front 16 rows when he kicks a goal...

 

[Slippery Pete]

Does anybody care that VB isn't a South Aussie?

Personally, I don't give a rat's toss bag (thanks Malcolm). But it occured to me the other day that we haven't had a non South Aussie as captain yet.

It also occurred to me that most of our young stars are from interstate - McKay, Otten, Tippett, Walker, Dangerfield, Henderson....

I think we've been quite brave in recruiting the best players available in recent times, and not just erring on the side of caution because a bloke is from SA. Commendable.

 

[Jars458]

VB certianly has many captaincy qualities but for mine he is not a good enough player to be our captain. He is a solid to good player. Captain's should be a bit better than that for mine.

 

[Drugs Are Bad Mackay?]

not to mention impregnate every woman in the front 16 rows when he kicks a goal...

We won't need a stadium with a roof if VB is captain - He decides when it rains.

 

[craig crowing]

And in all seriousness, thats what people seem to be missing.

That one quarter isnt the entire reason he'll be our next captain, but it damn sure didnt hurt. Given the fact that he was already considered favourite for the job for a range of reasons, watching him exert his influence on the outcome of a match was at the least another tick in the boxes.

Yes these points in post are reasons that VB will be next captain as the Hierachy want him to be for lots of reasons and there are no stand out alternatives .
Playing wise Thompson and Johncock stand out but not in leadership group and obviously off the field issues would not help.
Rutten is doing a OK job but really getting caught out with speed of game and opp.players recovery etc.
Doughty and Symes in leadership group but how and why.
Only other one mentioned is Dangerfield and that is ridicolous as still fulfill his amazing ability yet .
VB is not a star but certainly above average and next few games will solidify why they want him in that role

 

[TheLeftFist8]

VB certianly has many captaincy qualities but for mine he is not a good enough player to be our captain. He is a solid to good player. Captain's should be a bit better than that for mine.

Unfortunately this is where I'm at also.

He is 'solid to good' with limited skill and pace. Certainly need 2-3 of these blokes in a good team to be 'run-with' players, defensive forwards or negating defenders, but you don't want too many.

vB would not be too far ahead of Vandenberg in terms of on-field performance, though I'm not disputing he is no doubt a fine person and leader off-field.

Edit:

I know there are always injuries, but I would actually have vB as probably fighting for the last 3-4 or so positions in the side. The below side still has no Doughty, Jaensch, Martin, Petrenko, Symes, Stevens.

B: Johncock, Rutten, Davis
HB: Mackay, Bock, ****
C: Vince, Dangerfield, Otten
HF: Porplyzia, Henderson, Knights
F: Walker, Tippett, Sloane
1R: Moran, Reilly, S.Thompson
I: Sellar, Douglas, ****, ****

 

[sbenno]

TLF8, I would have vB before all of the "left over" players you mentioned as yet to make the side you posted. Not even sure that's our best 22, but given injuries this year (hence being unable to assess player development), our best 22 is very much up for debate. Purely for arguments sake.

Secondly, I'm not sold on the "your captain is you best player" deal, although there are a few of those running around. Depends on how you rate Ling as captain of the Cats, or Maxwell (Palladin jogged my memory) for Collingwood.

Now they're both better players than vB (vB is also much younger), but by no means A-grade players.

I wouldn't really complain if vB was made captain.

With regards to the OP, suggesting a single game (even a single quarter, seeing vB got half his stats in the last) makes his appointment to captaincy a certainty is just silly. Won't harm his chances, but I doubt it figure that highly in considerations either.

Whole argument is probably moot anyway, if Vader is right.

 

[Slippery Pete]

TLF8, I would have vB before all of the "left over" players you mentioned as yet to make the side you posted. Not even sure that's our best 22, but given injuries this year (hence being unable to assess player development), our best 22 is very much up for debate. Purely for arguments sake.

Secondly, I'm not sold on the "your captain is you best player" deal, although there are a few of those running around. Depends on how you rate Ling as captain of the Cats, or watsizname (<-damn mental blank!) for Collingwood.

Now they're both better players than vB (vB is also much younger), but by no means A-grade players.

I wouldn't really complain if vB was made captain.

With regards to the OP, suggesting a single game (even a single quarter, seeing vB got half his stats in the last) makes his appointment to captaincy a certainty is just silly. Won't harm his chances, but I doubt it figure that highly in considerations either.

Whole argument is probably moot anyway, if Vader is right.

Captain doesn't need to be the best player, but he needs to be the best leader.

Great leaders are usually great players anyway, but not necessarily vice versa.

 

[Paladin]

VB certianly has many captaincy qualities but for mine he is not a good enough player to be our captain. He is a solid to good player. Captain's should be a bit better than that for mine.

Why? VB is a lock for a spot every week. Better than Maxwell when he was appointed. Collingwood seem to be going allright. If VB is the best leader make him captain.

 

[Allbetsroff]

Well, I will say this.

If Van Berlo improves as much as Maxwell improved when given the captaincy, then give Nathan the captaincy right now.

 

[chigwidden]

Bernie Vince named VB and Rutten as the two most likely in his chat yesterday afternoon (his chat was pretty funny)

http://www.afc.com.au/season2010/livechatwithbernievince/tabid/16545/default.aspx

 

[Paperwings2316]

Nathan Van Berlo is the right man for the job. I think he is at a stage in his career where he is doing his job and is starting to be recognized for it which is where a captain in waiting should be at. To be totally honest, when Goodwin announced his retirement I immediatley thought of someone like Scotty Thompson, Graham Johncock or Truck Rutten. But certainly after Van Berlo's last two months I can now see why they have him as captian in waiting.

Based on his last two months I reckon he come thundering into contetion for the Club champion award along with Richie Douglas.

 

[Elite Crow]

Or maybe i dont believe theres a set and static ranking of players within a football team in terms of importance, from 1 to 22. The belief that there is seems absolutely ridiculous to me. Its the type of exercise that idiots on this site cling to, but which provides nothing of actual meaning.

Im comfortable in the belief that van Berlo is within our top 10 players performance wise. His history of best and fairest results placing him as such are enough for me.

Interesting to hear Matty Clarke on 5AA this morning on our next captain. Said VB had great leadership but the question mark was he hadnt secured his place in the team. When quizzed by Rucci, he said when picking the side he had been ranked 16-22. This may change given the loss of players, but coming from an assistant coach within the club, obviously they recognise it as a concern.

 

[macca23]

Secondly, I'm not sold on the "your captain is you best player" deal, although there are a few of those running around. Depends on how you rate Ling as captain of the Cats, or Maxwell (Palladin jogged my memory) for Collingwood.

Now they're both better players than vB (vB is also much younger), but by no means A-grade players.

No way was Maxwell a better player than VB before he took on the captaincy. He was nothing but a relatively unskiled average half back flanker who gave his very best in terms of effort.

There were many raised eyebrows when he was appointed captain, for the reasons I've stated above.

However, not only has he grown into a superb captain, his game has improved out of sight to the point where he is a very good player whos sets a great example in desperation and effort to his team.

VB starts on a much higher base IMO, and if he improves at the same rate as Maxwell has, he'd end up a bloody champion.

 

[Southerntakeover]

Interesting to hear Matty Clarke on 5AA this morning on our next captain. Said VB had great leadership but the question mark was he hadnt secured his place in the team. When quizzed by Rucci, he said when picking the side he had been ranked 16-22. This may change given the loss of players, but coming from an assistant coach within the club, obviously they recognise it as a concern.

Very interesting.

If the club does have a ranking in that manner i spose it would explain alot about selection that has both suprised and irritated me over the years.

I will endeavour to somehow listen to the interview myself in the next day or two. Is it streamed online?

 

[Elite Crow]

Very interesting.

If the club does have a ranking in that manner i spose it would explain alot about selection that has both suprised and irritated me over the years.

I will endeavour to somehow listen to the interview myself in the next day or two. Is it streamed online?

I dont think it would be streamed online because it wasnt an interview. Clarke is one of the presenters and it was just part of normal discussion.

Suprised you would think most clubs dont operate this way. Each club would have players that pick themselves and are required inclusions. Sure if their form drops off this would change, but if they are playing to their ability there are straight in.