Next Captain?

[pastmyprimus]

It's good to see that we've got a better field to pick the captain from compared to 4 years ago when Dom got the job.

Off topic, but I think that Port are on the way to addressing an issue that's bugged me for some time - the lack of onfield leadership. The team was mentally fragile, and would often go to water when it fell behind in a match. Heads would drop, and we didn't have the players to turn negative mindsets around. It was particularly obvious in 2011.

But I think things are on the up. We've got a core group of onfield leaders in Boak, Brad Ebert, Schulz and Trengove, and emerging leaders in Hartlett, Homsch and Wines. I've probably missed players in that list.

 

[Power Raid]

It's good to see that we've got a better field to pick the captain from compared to 4 years ago when Dom got the job.

Off topic, but I think that Port are on the way to addressing an issue that's bugged me for some time - the lack of onfield leadership. The team was mentally fragile, and would often go to water when it fell behind in a match. Heads would drop, and we didn't have the players to turn negative mindsets around. It was particularly obvious in 2011.

But I think things are on the up. We've got a core group of onfield leaders in Boak, Brad Ebert, Schulz and Trengove, and emerging leaders in Hartlett, Homsch and Wines. I've probably missed players in that list.

Spot on; who really cares who is captain! What we have been lacking is confidence and leadership.

Sure you want those characteristics in a captain and yes it's nice to have a captain with great skills and a footy brain.

What I think is more important in modern footy is a broader leadership base who can help "with the heavy lifting" in good times and the tough.

 

[FishingRick04]

Spot on; who really cares who is captain! What we have been lacking is confidence and leadership.

Sure you want those characteristics in a captain and yes it's nice to have a captain with great skills and a footy brain.

What I think is more important in modern footy is a broader leadership base who can help "with the heavy lifting" in good times and the tough.

Wingard was state captain also

 

[moses]

Kane Mitchell

 

[wilbur_15]

I think as long as the players back him, Boak will be captain. Personally, I reckon Ebert is a better player and if he was a bit older think he should get the job.

Boak is a solid player but may never be a star (so wasn't overly concerned if he had left this year) but he sure isn't a bad player and if he does becomes captain, he will never leave Port Adelaide so that's a plus.

Trengove tries hard but is way too clumsy, needs some good coaching and to concentrate on his own game.

Hartlett would be an ok choice but as said here already, also needs to put together a consistent, uninjured season or two first.

 

[faquito]

I'm happy with either Boak or Brad as captain next year, perhaps even both. I've liked how Sydney have had Goodes and McVeigh as co-captains and they've never seemed to lack any leadership on the field.

Similarly with Hawthorn having Mitchell and Hodge both effectively being captains.

 

[Rexie J]

Kane Mitchell

Obviously will never be captain but get the feeling this bloke may provide on-field leadership when the going gets tough.

More than a few kms on the clock and knows what it's all about. Good pick-up.

 

[moses]

Obviously will never be captain but get the feeling this bloke may provide on-field leadership when the going gets tough.

More than a few kms on the clock and knows what it's all about. Good pick-up.

Agreed, I suspect he will get some game time next season

 

[Peck]

Boak is a solid player but may never be a star

Sorry, but I just think this is wrong.

Boak has all the tools to be considered a star (he is actually a star in the eyes of many supporters), all but consistency. There is a chance that he won't reach the heights he is capable of, but if we are going to give up on a 24 year old, who the **** are we going to pin our hopes on?

If Boak doesn't become a star, or at least very, very close to it. There is something seriously wrong with our club.

It was too late for Steven Salopek, who didn't have quite the talent of Boak, and to me that was a massive indictment on our club. To give up on guys like Boak, and Gray is to give up on Port Adelaide IMHO, and I'm not willing to do that just yet.

Pinning hopes on future stars results in clubs like Melbourne and Richmond, who get excited about their draft picks every year. Oli Wines looks great, but I couldn't give a shit about him when there are guys like Boak, Carlile, Matty Thomas, and particularly Robbie Gray who have not yet lived up to their potential. Steven Salopek, Pearce, Surjan, and Chaplin were all in this boat, the club gave up on two of these guys, and two of them have left our club for money. If they become stars at Richmond, and Freo respectively then what will people here say about them?

I don't want to become Melbourne, I don't want to celebrate getting low draft picks like its a premiership. Not ever. I know this isn't what you are saying wilbur_15 but to me giving up on Boak is the start. He is our best player, and if we don't think he has the makings of the star, then how the hell will we ever have a star player.

"Yay Brad Ebert will be a star, oops he is 24 and there is a new guy 3 years younger who has promise, well lets pin all our hopes on him." This is the attitude I see from many of our supporters, rightly or wrongly.

I don't like it. Your best player, is your best player NOW, not someone who "will" surpass them. Maybe I should be giving more credit to Schulz as our best, but at least I'm trying. Perhaps I just don't give guys like Brad Ebert, and Hamish Hartlett enough credit, but AFAIC they aren't our best players. Not yet.

 

[Powerade 08]

flipping lol. calmdownbro.

 

[Powerade 08]

RE the best player stuff, I don't think Boak is our best player but he is probably in our top 2 or 3 performers.

On talent Hartlett, Wingard, Broadbent, Schulz and a few other probably ahead. Ebert about equal.

On performance maybe Schulz, Ebert.

We want someone who ranks high in both categories so Boak or Ebert seem the most obvious candidates.

 

[Wargreymon90]

Look at the stats of 2012 and please tell me how Ebert has performed better than Boak

 

[It Just Is]

Look at the stats of 2012 and please tell me how Ebert has performed better than Boak

Ebert had a much more impact on games than Boak.

Case in point, the come back win against North. Ebert only had 22 posessions but was clearly in the best 2 on the ground (3 Brownlow votes).

It hard to split Ebert and Boak and I think both would make fine captains. Hartlett seems the more natural leader to me but I'd like him to be consistantly playing well first.

 

[El_Scorcho]

Boak had injury issues though.

If I could pick one of them at full fitness to play a game for my life it would be Boak.

 

[BIG MATTY T]

I wonder who will be all Australian first from this year on boak or brad


I know who I got my money on

 

[Eddie Dingle]

I wonder who will be all Australian first from this year on boak or brad


I know who I got my money on

Travis Boak obviously???

 

[Wargreymon90]

Ebert had a much more impact on games than Boak.

Case in point, the come back win against North. Ebert only had 22 posessions but was clearly in the best 2 on the ground (3 Brownlow votes).

It hard to split Ebert and Boak and I think both would make fine captains. Hartlett seems the more natural leader to me but I'd like him to be consistantly playing well first.

Boak had more clearances and more inside 50s. Two pretty important stats when considering impact

I love Ebert. But Boak is definitely the more talented player. There is a reason opposition coaches put a tagger on Boak ahead of Ebert

 

[FishingRick04]

Boak sucked very justifiably last year due to a severe foot injury that he kept playing through.

I would write him off of being an A grader until you see what Hinkley and Burgess can do for his career. Our fitness staff and recent coaches have alot to be accountable for!

 

[wilbur_15]

Sorry, but I just think this is wrong.

Boak has all the tools to be considered a star (he is actually a star in the eyes of many supporters), all but consistency. There is a chance that he won't reach the heights he is capable of, but if we are going to give up on a 24 year old, who the **** are we going to pin our hopes on?

If Boak doesn't become a star, or at least very, very close to it. There is something seriously wrong with our club.

It was too late for Steven Salopek, who didn't have quite the talent of Boak, and to me that was a massive indictment on our club. To give up on guys like Boak, and Gray is to give up on Port Adelaide IMHO, and I'm not willing to do that just yet.

Pinning hopes on future stars results in clubs like Melbourne and Richmond, who get excited about their draft picks every year. Oli Wines looks great, but I couldn't give a shit about him when there are guys like Boak, Carlile, Matty Thomas, and particularly Robbie Gray who have not yet lived up to their potential. Steven Salopek, Pearce, Surjan, and Chaplin were all in this boat, the club gave up on two of these guys, and two of them have left our club for money. If they become stars at Richmond, and Freo respectively then what will people here say about them?

I don't want to become Melbourne, I don't want to celebrate getting low draft picks like its a premiership. Not ever. I know this isn't what you are saying wilbur_15 but to me giving up on Boak is the start. He is our best player, and if we don't think he has the makings of the star, then how the hell will we ever have a star player.

"Yay Brad Ebert will be a star, oops he is 24 and there is a new guy 3 years younger who has promise, well lets pin all our hopes on him." This is the attitude I see from many of our supporters, rightly or wrongly.

I don't like it. Your best player, is your best player NOW, not someone who "will" surpass them. Maybe I should be giving more credit to Schulz as our best, but at least I'm trying. Perhaps I just don't give guys like Brad Ebert, and Hamish Hartlett enough credit, but AFAIC they aren't our best players. Not yet.

I never said or implied I was giving up on Boak. I think he's a good player (as I mentioned above), could be very good but don't think he's great yet. Also, I don't think he necessarily has the tools to become a star, particularly his kicking which isn't damaging like for example Jobe Watson (who single-handedly won the round 3? game against us last year with some gutsy, searing passes in the last qtr). His fitness is also a bit lacking although alot of that seems to be due to injuries but then again Mitchell/Selwood are durable which counts for alot.

IMO Boak should be played as a pure inside mid which is his strength not tried to be turned into a half outside player like Primus was attempting for some reason. So his best hope is to become a Mitchell/Selwood type but those guys were already seriously dominating games consistently before they were 24. Anyway, he definitely could come close to being a star as you say and I sure hope I'm proved wrong altogether and he does become a bonafide star! Don't get me wrong, I like Boak but think he's slightly (not hugely) over-rated, mainly as a result of media hype.

As for our best players, I think Gray and Hartlett are already better than Boak and Ebert is as good as him now. Agree with Chadwick above. Stats are not the be all and end all and Ebert had far more impact on games and at key times to boot. He laid many desperate tackles (which don't even register a stat unless they result in a ball up if you didn't know) and ran hard to link up on big plays resulting in goals. The amount of hard running he did all season was exceptional and once again, there's no stat for that. Hard running both ways, but especially defensively has been Port's greatest weakness the last few years and Ebert is already best in our team at it by a long way.

 

[FishingRick04]

^ if Jobe Watson can become a star player so can Travis Boak iMO

Travis is also a victim of failed game plans, probably with confusing roles compared to Mitchell and Selwood.

 

[TheFVK]

As for our best players, I think Gray and Hartlett are already better than Boak and Ebert is as good as him now. Agree with Chadwick above. Stats are not the be all and end all and Ebert had far more impact on games and at key times to boot. He laid many desperate tackles (which don't even register a stat unless they result in a ball up if you didn't know) .

Yes they do, Champion Data register a tackle if:
-A stoppage is forced
-The player tackling is rewarded with a free kick
-The tackling player causes an ineffective disposal.

So theoretically you could push a player as he kicks, forcing an OOF and you would get a +1 in your tackle stats.

 

[wilbur_15]

Yes they do, Champion Data register a tackle if:
-A stoppage is forced
-The player tackling is rewarded with a free kick
-The tackling player causes an ineffective disposal.

So theoretically you could push a player as he kicks, forcing an OOF and you would get a +1 in your tackle stats.

Where did you get that last one from? Never heard it before. It couldn't possibly be right as the number of ineffective disposals per game where a player has some body contact on his opponent would number in the hundreds let alone all the "legit" tackles for holding the ball/causing a ball up. Tackles numbers just aren't that high. They average about 70 a match or something.

 

[BIG MATTY T]

Boak sucked very justifiably last year due to a severe foot injury that he kept playing through.

I would write him off of being an A grader until you see what Hinkley and Burgess can do for his career. Our fitness staff and recent coaches have alot to be accountable for!

I think the player has a lot to be accountable for too it's not a 1 way street

 

[Peck]

It wouldn't number in the hundereds, what the hell?

I think it is right after watching that Ebert tackling masterclass video. Many of those tackles didn't even look like a tackle to me.

 

[FishingRick04]

I think the player has a lot to be accountable for too it's not a 1 way street

If a player is following poor instruction on the field and in fitness, they can't be held accountable. I had no faith in the people that were in their positions from 2008 onwards. The next two years will answer all the questions raised over Travis.