Opinion Men's 2023 Leadership Group - Merrett/McGrath captain/vice

Who should be in the 2023 leadership group? [Pick up to 7]


  • Total voters
    145

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Zach Merrett should of been captain two years ago.

Leadership group
Zach Merrett C
Dylan Shiel VC
Jayden Laverde
Mason Redman
 
Merrett (C)
Redman (VC)
Langford
Laverde
Perkins/Draper

Merrett and Redman are self explanatory.

Langford-despite me believing he could be out of our best side at seasons end, that's just a thought. I have heard a few time's other than here , that Kyle has great leadership around the club. Get him in the leadership group.

Laverde- turned around his career and set's an example with his toughness and resilience. That reminds me of one Mark Harvey.

Draper/Perkins- Both with only around 40-odd games, but developing them to be leader's now should benefit us in the future. We would probably only have one kid in the group.
Draper- Has flair, guts and mongrel.
Perkins- Head down and just try to work your ass off.

In a year or 2 add Hobbs.
 
McGrath should (but won't) be captain and half the people here don't have him in the Group.

It'll be Merrett, McGrath and then maybe Redman.
 

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AFL news: Peter Wright defends Dyson Heppell’s captaincy credentials and all the latest training intel​

Essendon’s best-and-fairest winner has leapt to the defence of Dyson Heppell. Plus, a warning on Anthony McDonald-Tipungwuti, a recruit impressing and more.

Essendon best-and-fairest winner Peter Wright has launched an impassioned defence of Dyson Heppell’s captaincy as the veteran defender ponders whether to hand on the baton after six years in charge.

New Essendon coach Brad Scott said a decision on who would captain the club next year could still be “a couple of months” away, but he said Heppell would have a “key role” to play one way or another.

The Dons have not won a final under Heppell’s tenure, with a series of below-par performances including a 30-tackle effort against Sydney this year contributing to the sacking of coach Ben Rutten.

Heppell eventually signed another contract at Essendon after briefly considering moving to the Gold Coast, and at 30 could decide it is time to concentrate on his football.

But while Heppell has at times been seen as overly positive in his leadership even after horror defeats, Wright made clear the 30-year-old was Essendon’s most authoritative leader.
He told the Herald Sun it would be up to Heppell what he wanted to do while a group of younger players under him desperately attempted to improve leadership depth.

Peter Wright has leapt to Dyson Heppell’s defence. Picture: Michael Klein

“He is one of the best people I have met in football, Dyson. He is an incredible leader. He speaks to the group really well. It’s up to him if he wants to carry that (mantle) again. I am definitely not taking down ‘Hepp’ unless he wants to pass it on,” he said.

“I think with everything ‘Hepp’ has had to carry he always turns up the same person, an incredibly optimistic person and a really great connector in the group.
“I feel like what stood out to me is in challenging times when we have had challenging meetings or performances he is the one that really galvanises the group, speaks really well to the group, and can sum up really well with an emphatic ending. Not a grand speech, just makes clear the feelings of the group really strongly.”

Essendon’s leadership group in 2022 consisted of Heppell, vice-captain Zach Merrett and deputy vice-captain Andy McGrath.
Brad Scott says they won’t rush to name their new captain. Picture: Daniel Pockett/AFL Photos/via Getty Images

“Dyson Heppell has made a fantastic start to pre-season. I’ve admired Dyson from afar for a long time but seeing him up close, I can see why he’s been such an important part of the Essendon fabric over a long period of time,” Scott said.

“He’ll have a key role to play for us next year, but in terms of finalising what that leadership structure looks like, I suspect it will take us the first couple of months of next year before we get to that stage.
“ ... I’m not of the view that you need a certain number in your leadership group.
“It’s who we think is best placed to fill those roles.”

In recent years when the bottom has dropped out of the club’s performance there have been too few senior players prepared to stand up to change the course of a game.

“If he doesn’t (want to continue) it’s an exciting opportunity for someone else to step into that void again and if he doesn’t there would be a number of players capable not just of captaincy but to become better leaders, which is really important with a young group,” Wright said.
“There are guys putting in a heap of work to do that and being really vocal on the track. I think the players are excited to grow their own leadership.”
 

AFL news: Peter Wright defends Dyson Heppell’s captaincy credentials and all the latest training intel​


What the hell do you think he's gonna say when asked?

"The 'yeah, nah she'll be right m8' larrakin is being selfish for going on an extra year and not reneging the captaincy knowing full well he doesn't command a standard and would have trouble staying in the best 22 for more than a week".

That'd be the day.

Anyway can't help but feel as though the constant murmurs is a sign of a immiment change. And it would make sense, Hepp's signed for one more year and it'd be absolutely selfish of him to not hand the reigns to someone new and spend his last year helping the next person adjust to their new role.
 
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Does he shirk all leadership responsibilities if he's not captain? Surely even he must realise he won't play a full season next year, step down, let the younger blokes take over but retain some of those leadership capabilities.

If he decides to wash his hands of it if they don't name him captain, he's not a leader's arseh*le at that point anyway.
 

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If Truck were still coaching for 2023, I'd be ok with Heppell continuing on as captain. Even if he perhaps wasn't the best candidate out of our club.

However, I think starting a clean slate and new direction under Scott makes the most sense. Be it Zachy, Redman, McGrath etc. Someone fresh to take the club forward in both capacities .
 
Leaning towards retaining Heppell on account of 1) ordinary alternatives amongst senior playing group and 2) new coach

2023
C: Heppell
VC: Redman, Merrett
LG: + Shiel, McGrath and Ridley

2024 (with a view to transition)
C: Merrett
VC: Redman, Ridley
LG: McGrath, Shiel and Hobbs (+ Heppell if still around)
 
In order for the standards of the club to be set across the board and for the gameplan to be reiterated during matches, you need a figurehead who is actually going to be there for all or most of the games. You need a captain who will actually be able to... captain. This is the person the young team will look forward to for guidance in what they've been taught and stability during intense games, we need someone who can not only keep up with them but actually be there to send a message and provide that visible direction. Not only that but the captain also sets the standard for earning games, what kind of a message does it send to the team if earning a spot in the starting side is as easy as retaining a title well past your due date. Heppell needs to step aside.
 
Draper. Is the heart and soul of the group, brings physicality, his role kinda protects him from the defensive transition stuff so many of our other contenders struggle with. He's also gonna be a top 5 player in position, which means his selection want ever really be questionable.
 
Stringer. It'd be fun at least.
Idk about Stringer specifically, but I do think people mature faster when they’re given responsibility.

Maybe that’s unfair on a kid as young as Hobbs, who deserves a chance to develop his own game without that kind of scrutiny, but some of the other guys in their mid-twenties would surprise a few if given the chance.
 
Idk about Stringer specifically, but I do think people mature faster when they’re given responsibility.

Maybe that’s unfair on a kid as young as Hobbs, who deserves a chance to develop his own game without that kind of scrutiny, but some of the other guys in their mid-twenties would surprise a few if given the chance.
I was not being serious.
 

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Opinion Men's 2023 Leadership Group - Merrett/McGrath captain/vice

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