Remove this Banner Ad

Worst AFL captain

🥰 Love BigFooty? Join now for free.

Is still playing good footy well into his 30's

Nominated because 1 year and only 4 wins then replaced
Oh My God Reaction GIF by reactionseditor
 

Log in to remove this Banner Ad

Is still playing good footy well into his 30's

Nominated because 1 year and only 4 wins then replaced
C'mon mate, it had more to do with what Nat Fyfe was doing right, than anything David Mundy did wrong.

I suspect you know that though and are just trying to pot anything Freo.
 
C'mon mate, it had more to do with what Nat Fyfe was doing right, than anything David Mundy did wrong.

I suspect you know that though and are just trying to pot anything Freo.
How is it a pot shot?

1 season captain that got 4 wins and was replaced

Whole point of this thread
Richie vandenberg is the worst of all time
I forgot about him!
 
What was the deal with Jarryn Geary?
Rookie listed player to begin with, worked his arse off to become a best 22 player, Always has been a good clubman, Took over captaincy from Nick Riewoldt and was a decent captain.

Stepped down as Captain when Jack Steele reached an elite level.
 
Richie vandenberg is the worst of all time
Vandenberg might've had the least amount of football ability of any captain in living memory, but he was far from the worst captain.

He was actually a pretty good captain from 2005 to 2007 because he was selfless, team-oriented, disciplined, tough, hard-at-the-ball, strong tackling and dedicated to getting the best out of himself, following coaches instructions and helping those around him. That might not sound very important to opposition fans, but within a footy club, it is everything.

I'd prefer to have a team-oriented hack as captain than a self-centred FIGJAM superstar who sets the wrong example.

Vandenberg proved to be a positive influence on the talented young players we had on our list which why he was reappointed as captain and spent 3 years as skipper despite only being a borderline selection in our 22. Along with the coaches, he helped fast-track our young side into becoming premiers well ahead of schedule when they upset the 2008 Geelong juggernaut.

He didn't have 10% of the skill nor any of the match-winning capabilities of Brent "Kick it to me" Harvey, but he was a better leader.
 
Last edited:
Right now, for mine, these are the Top 5 worst captains in the AFL - by a long shot:

1. Steven Coniglio (co captain now, but just is not suited to it in any way, shape or form)

2. Tom Jonas (seriously, even Port supporters don't get this one - should already be solely Wines, who is basically looked at as the captain anyway)

3. Jack Ziebell (doesn't inspire and has dropped off a cliff since he got moved out of the mids)

4. Dyson Heppell (doesn't inspire or seem to really be leadership material like someone like Merrett - who should be captain, and probably will be as soon as next year)

5. Luke Shuey (should've just kept it with Hurn, as this guy never seems to be on the park enough anyway to actually act as a captain - let alone get back to his elite form)
 
Right now, for mine, these are the Top 5 worst captains in the AFL - by a long shot:

1. Steven Coniglio (co captain now, but just is not suited to it in any way, shape or form)

2. Tom Jonas (seriously, even Port supporters don't get this one - should already be solely Wines, who is basically looked at as the captain anyway)

3. Jack Ziebell (doesn't inspire and has dropped off a cliff since he got moved out of the mids)

4. Dyson Heppell (doesn't inspire or seem to really be leadership material like someone like Merrett - who should be captain, and probably will be as soon as next year)

5. Luke Shuey (should've just kept it with Hurn, as this guy never seems to be on the park enough anyway to actually act as a captain - let alone get back to his elite form)
2. Tom Jonas (seriously, even Port supporters don't get this one - should already be solely Wines, who is basically looked at as the captain anyway)

2 years ago the Powa supporters were right into slagging off Wines and wanted him traded......
 

Remove this Banner Ad

Billy Brownless recounts of a story in retirement having a beer with a teammate (can't remember who) and Snr walked in coincidentally and joins them and has a beer - the 3rd teammate went to the bathroom and Snr asks who that was to Billy and he just goes "he played with us" and Gary had no idea
God can't be expected to keep track of all his creations
 
2. Tom Jonas (seriously, even Port supporters don't get this one - should already be solely Wines, who is basically looked at as the captain anyway)

2 years ago the Powa supporters were right into slagging off Wines and wanted him traded......
Why would they want to trade at the time future Brownlow medallist, Quadzilla?
 
Don’t know about worst but Luke Shuey and Rory Sloane are easily the most cursed since becoming Captain.

Since become Captains in 2020 (Solo Captain in Sloane’s case)

Sloane - 34/61 games (including the rest of the 2022 season which he’ll miss with an ACL)
Shuey - 24/48 games (to round 8 2022)

Neither have managed their best footy as Captain. 11 Brownlow votes between them.

Sloane has had a shocking run with injuries and Shuey hasn’t played more than 5 weeks in a row since 2019.

Great players at their peak but ‘Cursed Captains’.
 

🥰 Love BigFooty? Join now for free.

Vandenberg might've had the least amount of football ability of any captain in living memory, but he was far from the worst captain.

He was actually a pretty good captain from 2005 to 2007 because he was selfless, team-oriented, disciplined, tough, hard-at-the-ball, strong tackling and dedicated to getting the best out of himself, following coaches instructions and helping those around him. That might not sound very important to opposition fans, but within a footy club, it is everything.

Agreed. He knew that it would be a tough role because we had such a young team and were going to get smashed on field and off field and did it without complaint, and at the end of 2007 the club asked him if he could retire a he did without complaint.

The club to this day has a very high opinion of him because of his sacrifice.

Im pretty sure he did an Open Mike which talked about a lot of this.
 
4. Dyson Heppell (doesn't inspire or seem to really be leadership material like someone like Merrett - who should be captain, and probably will be as soon as next year)

Heppell has stayed Captain the last couple of years because no one else really was ready, Merrett can be a great player but hasn't always been someone who's been a great leader, looks like he's improved on that front and will probably take the C for a couple of seasons from 2023.

AFAIK Heppell is well liked and respected, works hard off-field and at training and all that, he's just physically pretty cooked, partly due to destroying himself playing as an inside midfielder for a few years to help the side.

Hobbs first few game have had some very Selwood-esque moments, he's a smokey future C for me.
 
Right now, for mine, these are the Top 5 worst captains in the AFL - by a long shot:

1. Steven Coniglio (co captain now, but just is not suited to it in any way, shape or form)

2. Tom Jonas (seriously, even Port supporters don't get this one - should already be solely Wines, who is basically looked at as the captain anyway)

3. Jack Ziebell (doesn't inspire and has dropped off a cliff since he got moved out of the mids)

4. Dyson Heppell (doesn't inspire or seem to really be leadership material like someone like Merrett - who should be captain, and probably will be as soon as next year)

5. Luke Shuey (should've just kept it with Hurn, as this guy never seems to be on the park enough anyway to actually act as a captain - let alone get back to his elite form)

Should put Selwood in there, most games captained without a premiership is a pretty bad record and he’s still hogging it.
 
Should put Selwood in there, most games captained without a premiership is a pretty bad record and he’s still hogging it.

Moronic comment. Has 3 flags himself, been voted best captain among his peers and most courageous multiple times, and even with his body worn, still has been our best mid thus far this year. Always shows leadership on field, and does so much work in the community/with every person in the club from management all the way down to the water boys.

It's not his fault he was made captain AFTER our most successful period. Seriously, are you just trying to cause controversy and annoy?
 
Love to know why exactly.
I would have thought he has been alot better than many captains.
Took over during a period of transition with senior, premiership winning players were leaving, playing a straight bat during the Buckley/Malthouse saga, and then again with the pressure on Buckley's position back in 2017 and again last year.
Leading the club to a GF (and almost winning it), as well as a Prelim.
Continues to be a strong player even though he is in his 30s.
Playing a coaching role on the field for the new recruits from 2020 trade period.
Continues to prepare well before games and sets an example.

So why is he the worst captain? I can think of many who are worse. Can't you?

wasn't Pendlebury captain during the systemic racism years?
 

Remove this Banner Ad

Worst AFL captain

🥰 Love BigFooty? Join now for free.

Back
Top