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Teen Wolf
Norm Smith Medallist
- Jul 5, 2011
- 8,585
- 9,518
- AFL Club
- North Melbourne
- Other Teams
- Afghanistan women's cricket team
A real new age approach from several clubs this year. Once upon a time, your club captain was expected to be one of the team's best players, if not the best. But now you don't even have to be best 21!
Fremantle
After three seasons at the helm, the captaincy was ripped away from 28yo Hayley Miller. She is coming off a poor season so it's perhaps justified. Two weird things about the decision that may hint Freo's AFLW program is all over the shop: 1) she was replaced by 27yo Ange Stannett who won't even be playing this year due to injury (not a secret when votes were cast), meaning 2) Miller, now co-vice-captain, will probably be expected to fill in as captain anyway!
Port Adelaide
It's been injury after injury for Janelle Cuthbertson, who takes the number 1 jumper from the retired Erin Phillips. 1 is also the number of full seasons Cuthbertson's managed to get through from five attempts, so it's probably optimistic to think her body will be in better nick at age 34. Gemma Houghton is literally known as "Aunty" because of how she looks out for teammates, and yet has never been in the frame for captaincy across two clubs now--which isn't to point a finger only at the Dockers and Port. League B&F winners Ally Anderson and Madison Prespakis have also never even been vice-captains at a club. Some (including myself) would say this could possibly be because these particular indigenous players don't want to be captains, which only suggests an even bigger and more serious issue. Terrible look for football.
Melbourne
Kate Hore (who certainly is one of Melbourne's best players) takes on the role for the second year running. If she continues to be selfish in front of goal and soft at the contest, I'll continue to criticise her leadership and won't be dissuaded by claims I simply "don't like her" personally, which is the kind of response I'd expect from an 8-year-old.
West Coast
Not a big surprise to see Emma Swanson named again. The dubious choice by the Eagles is Jess Hosking being included in the leadership group. Hasn't done much to suggest she's a great leader: followed her sister (who's a better player) to Richmond, got in trouble for having mean words written on shoulder strapping, got in trouble for drink driving on a jet ski, has usually struggled to get a kick, was delisted and then thrown a lifeline by the new West Coast coach. Well, my dear Daisy is a proven great leader, however she has shown clouded judgment when it comes to old buddies (example: clearly responsible for getting Darebin stablemate Melissa Hickey the 2nd inaugural marquee spot at Melbourne, rather than MUWFC's Ellie Blackburn).
Western Bulldogs
Speaking of Ellie Blackburn... hasn't missed a game in 8 seasons, top 2 in the club B&F every time, has stayed loyal despite huuuuge offers from heaps of clubs, took the team to a flag. Yeah nah, that's not leadership material. It's being reported Blackburn was "overlooked" for the captaincy, rather than initiating a changeover. Her replacement is Deanna Berry, who's made the top 10 of a club B&F once (7th in 2022 S7) in her AFLW career to date.
Who else?
At this rate I'm expecting Emma King (or another player who crumbles under pressure--Tahlia Randall?) to take over from Emma Kearney. Sarah Allan has always seemingly been the favourite as Chelsea Randall's successor which, while not egregious, is still odd when you've got Ebony Marinoff as an option. Brea Moody should've been Carlton's captain for the last 4 or 5 seasons... don't think that's going to be belatedly corrected. Tara Bohanna was very poor last year but might retain the role by virute of the exodus of other senior Gold Coast players.
Collingwood is a club to watch with a new coach, and Bri Davey's on-field unreliability. Katie Brennan making way for Monique Conti must be at least a 50-50 chance. Alicia Eva has stepped aside at GWS, surely for Alyce Parker? Nina Morrison might take over at Geelong, or maybe Meg McDonald will hold on like Hannah Priest somehow has at St Kilda.
Some of these decisions may have already been announced, and I've just missed them. Perhaps the truth about the Blackburn and Miller stories have been misreported too (not to my knowledge, and as of right now I wish nothing but bad things on Fremantle and the Bulldogs for these disrespectful moves).
Fremantle
After three seasons at the helm, the captaincy was ripped away from 28yo Hayley Miller. She is coming off a poor season so it's perhaps justified. Two weird things about the decision that may hint Freo's AFLW program is all over the shop: 1) she was replaced by 27yo Ange Stannett who won't even be playing this year due to injury (not a secret when votes were cast), meaning 2) Miller, now co-vice-captain, will probably be expected to fill in as captain anyway!
Port Adelaide
It's been injury after injury for Janelle Cuthbertson, who takes the number 1 jumper from the retired Erin Phillips. 1 is also the number of full seasons Cuthbertson's managed to get through from five attempts, so it's probably optimistic to think her body will be in better nick at age 34. Gemma Houghton is literally known as "Aunty" because of how she looks out for teammates, and yet has never been in the frame for captaincy across two clubs now--which isn't to point a finger only at the Dockers and Port. League B&F winners Ally Anderson and Madison Prespakis have also never even been vice-captains at a club. Some (including myself) would say this could possibly be because these particular indigenous players don't want to be captains, which only suggests an even bigger and more serious issue. Terrible look for football.
Melbourne
Kate Hore (who certainly is one of Melbourne's best players) takes on the role for the second year running. If she continues to be selfish in front of goal and soft at the contest, I'll continue to criticise her leadership and won't be dissuaded by claims I simply "don't like her" personally, which is the kind of response I'd expect from an 8-year-old.
West Coast
Not a big surprise to see Emma Swanson named again. The dubious choice by the Eagles is Jess Hosking being included in the leadership group. Hasn't done much to suggest she's a great leader: followed her sister (who's a better player) to Richmond, got in trouble for having mean words written on shoulder strapping, got in trouble for drink driving on a jet ski, has usually struggled to get a kick, was delisted and then thrown a lifeline by the new West Coast coach. Well, my dear Daisy is a proven great leader, however she has shown clouded judgment when it comes to old buddies (example: clearly responsible for getting Darebin stablemate Melissa Hickey the 2nd inaugural marquee spot at Melbourne, rather than MUWFC's Ellie Blackburn).
Western Bulldogs
Speaking of Ellie Blackburn... hasn't missed a game in 8 seasons, top 2 in the club B&F every time, has stayed loyal despite huuuuge offers from heaps of clubs, took the team to a flag. Yeah nah, that's not leadership material. It's being reported Blackburn was "overlooked" for the captaincy, rather than initiating a changeover. Her replacement is Deanna Berry, who's made the top 10 of a club B&F once (7th in 2022 S7) in her AFLW career to date.
Who else?
At this rate I'm expecting Emma King (or another player who crumbles under pressure--Tahlia Randall?) to take over from Emma Kearney. Sarah Allan has always seemingly been the favourite as Chelsea Randall's successor which, while not egregious, is still odd when you've got Ebony Marinoff as an option. Brea Moody should've been Carlton's captain for the last 4 or 5 seasons... don't think that's going to be belatedly corrected. Tara Bohanna was very poor last year but might retain the role by virute of the exodus of other senior Gold Coast players.
Collingwood is a club to watch with a new coach, and Bri Davey's on-field unreliability. Katie Brennan making way for Monique Conti must be at least a 50-50 chance. Alicia Eva has stepped aside at GWS, surely for Alyce Parker? Nina Morrison might take over at Geelong, or maybe Meg McDonald will hold on like Hannah Priest somehow has at St Kilda.
Some of these decisions may have already been announced, and I've just missed them. Perhaps the truth about the Blackburn and Miller stories have been misreported too (not to my knowledge, and as of right now I wish nothing but bad things on Fremantle and the Bulldogs for these disrespectful moves).