JesusHcrikey
Team Captain
http://www.realfooty.com.au/news/news/time-for-a-new-way-fraser/2008/02/09/1202234237050.html
AS Collingwood searches for a captain for the first time in more than a decade, the fate of Josh Fraser will say plenty about how the famous football club faces life without Nathan Buckley.
And the fact that the 26-year-old ruckman has put himself forward for the job says much about the new and unfettered football world he sees opening up for the Magpies now that Buckley and his former deputy James Clement have gone.
Fraser believes Buckley's loss has given voice to a new generation of Magpies, as younger players clamber to fill the vacuum left by the decade-long captain and is keen to embrace a new era at Collingwood built on fewer meetings and more football.
Collingwood loved to explain away Fraser's refusal last year to remain an official club leader by the fact he remained the same laconic and easygoing farmer's son from Mansfield who burst onto the scene as an outstanding junior player in the late 1990s, when chosen as No. 1 pick in the 1999 national draft.
But his decision to quit the Magpies' leadership group during the 2007 season said much about Fraser's disenchantment with the direction in which AFL clubs — and specifically, his club — were headed in their search for on-field dominance.
"I just had to get away from all the meetings we were having," Fraser told The Sunday Age during the Magpies' NAB Cup preparation in Dubai. "And, to be honest, I think my on-field leadership benefited from getting away from the leadership group for a while. Even in my time in the game, it's changed so much and was getting out of hand.
"It seemed like we were having meetings for the sake of meetings and then we'd have a meeting to plan the next meeting and then a meeting to debrief on the last meeting. Some of the guys were just itching to get out and train. After all, we're still a footy club when you boil it down."
The version coming from the Collingwood off-field hierarchy was that Fraser's style was directly opposed to the structural discipline and meticulous planning overseen by Buckley — despite the fact the teammates enjoy a good relationship and have holidayed together regularly — and Clement.
Fraser arrived in Dubai on Thursday after an often-gruelling 2½ weeks in South Africa, where the ruckman was one of a big group of players struck down by a violent gastro-style bug.
Despite the fact that the squad arrived slightly jaded, coach Mick Malthouse enthused to waiting club bosses in Dubai about the freshness of the group after the departure of Collingwood's on-field elder statesman.
Fraser endorsed that. "No disrespect to the guys who have left the football club, but when guys as strong as Bucks and Jimmy go, then suddenly the younger ones come out of their shells and start to speak up and take on more senior roles. I really noticed that with guys like Travis Cloke and Scotty Pendlebury. It has just lifted everyone up.
"It's been a good thing. It's been a great thing. Then you've got Scottie Burns, who may or may not only have a year left, and things will change again, and again when players such as myself and Leon (Davis) and Ben Johnson retire after that.
"One thing I've sensed that has stayed the same is the hunger from the group. Last year wasn't a fluke, we didn't feel we overachieved in any way. The beauty of our position now is that there are quite a few blokes to choose from, which you mightn't have said not all that long ago."
Although Fraser insists he has put his hand up for the captaincy only "unofficially", he stresses that he would love to replace Buckley. He said he had been urged to do so by some teammates and is now one of as many as seven players in public contention for the job.
But he wanted to wait, he said, until the new year to ensure his body — which let him down towards the end of last season and also failed him in September, most notably on the eve of the preliminary final against Geelong — had not only completely recovered but successfully endured the first half of pre-season training. After significant rest, core-strengthening training and a full pre-season, it has.
"I played 18 games but I feel I missed a fair bit of footy," Fraser said. "I knew from the mid-season break I needed a rest but it wasn't possible and I didn't feel I really contributed. Probably the hardest part of my career was having to watch them against Geelong from the coach's box."
Faced in recent years with dealing with a series of off-field disasters perpetuated by players such as Chris Tarrant, Alan Didak and Chad Morrison, the Magpies already this season have been forced to deal with West Australian rookie Sharrod Wellingham, whose drink-driving charge cost the club a Transport Accident Commission sponsorship worth $500,000.
Without singling anyone out, Fraser said: "My style would be completely different to what we've done previously. I'd sit down and have a chat with them but I wouldn't ear-bash them or bawl them out. I'd do it gradually and try to get my message across over a period."
The veteran Burns, who did not play in Dubai but flew home for his sister's wedding, is probably favourite for the captaincy role, ahead of Tarkyn Lockyer, who also openly stated his desire for the role this week. Youngsters Nick Maxwell and Pendlebury are also in contention.
"I'd like to think I could run the off-field stuff," Fraser said. "I'd have to have more tolerance of the meetings we need to have but I certainly wouldn't be creating any more than we needed. I can be fairly vocal when I need to when we're playing, but I could probably improve on that and speak up a bit more.
"I do think I would see it as more of an on-field leadership role but even if I don't get the job, I will be happy to support whoever does and stay in the leadership group."
Fraser smiles at his own words when he says: "That's what it's all about in footy now, isn't it? Leadership groups."
Clearly, a Josh Fraser-led Collingwood would prove a massive statement by Mick Malthouse and the Collingwood board. Equally clearly, the football club has moved on from Nathan Buckley — and there appears to be no looking back.
AS Collingwood searches for a captain for the first time in more than a decade, the fate of Josh Fraser will say plenty about how the famous football club faces life without Nathan Buckley.
And the fact that the 26-year-old ruckman has put himself forward for the job says much about the new and unfettered football world he sees opening up for the Magpies now that Buckley and his former deputy James Clement have gone.
Fraser believes Buckley's loss has given voice to a new generation of Magpies, as younger players clamber to fill the vacuum left by the decade-long captain and is keen to embrace a new era at Collingwood built on fewer meetings and more football.
Collingwood loved to explain away Fraser's refusal last year to remain an official club leader by the fact he remained the same laconic and easygoing farmer's son from Mansfield who burst onto the scene as an outstanding junior player in the late 1990s, when chosen as No. 1 pick in the 1999 national draft.
But his decision to quit the Magpies' leadership group during the 2007 season said much about Fraser's disenchantment with the direction in which AFL clubs — and specifically, his club — were headed in their search for on-field dominance.
"I just had to get away from all the meetings we were having," Fraser told The Sunday Age during the Magpies' NAB Cup preparation in Dubai. "And, to be honest, I think my on-field leadership benefited from getting away from the leadership group for a while. Even in my time in the game, it's changed so much and was getting out of hand.
"It seemed like we were having meetings for the sake of meetings and then we'd have a meeting to plan the next meeting and then a meeting to debrief on the last meeting. Some of the guys were just itching to get out and train. After all, we're still a footy club when you boil it down."
The version coming from the Collingwood off-field hierarchy was that Fraser's style was directly opposed to the structural discipline and meticulous planning overseen by Buckley — despite the fact the teammates enjoy a good relationship and have holidayed together regularly — and Clement.
Fraser arrived in Dubai on Thursday after an often-gruelling 2½ weeks in South Africa, where the ruckman was one of a big group of players struck down by a violent gastro-style bug.
Despite the fact that the squad arrived slightly jaded, coach Mick Malthouse enthused to waiting club bosses in Dubai about the freshness of the group after the departure of Collingwood's on-field elder statesman.
Fraser endorsed that. "No disrespect to the guys who have left the football club, but when guys as strong as Bucks and Jimmy go, then suddenly the younger ones come out of their shells and start to speak up and take on more senior roles. I really noticed that with guys like Travis Cloke and Scotty Pendlebury. It has just lifted everyone up.
"It's been a good thing. It's been a great thing. Then you've got Scottie Burns, who may or may not only have a year left, and things will change again, and again when players such as myself and Leon (Davis) and Ben Johnson retire after that.
"One thing I've sensed that has stayed the same is the hunger from the group. Last year wasn't a fluke, we didn't feel we overachieved in any way. The beauty of our position now is that there are quite a few blokes to choose from, which you mightn't have said not all that long ago."
Although Fraser insists he has put his hand up for the captaincy only "unofficially", he stresses that he would love to replace Buckley. He said he had been urged to do so by some teammates and is now one of as many as seven players in public contention for the job.
But he wanted to wait, he said, until the new year to ensure his body — which let him down towards the end of last season and also failed him in September, most notably on the eve of the preliminary final against Geelong — had not only completely recovered but successfully endured the first half of pre-season training. After significant rest, core-strengthening training and a full pre-season, it has.
"I played 18 games but I feel I missed a fair bit of footy," Fraser said. "I knew from the mid-season break I needed a rest but it wasn't possible and I didn't feel I really contributed. Probably the hardest part of my career was having to watch them against Geelong from the coach's box."
Faced in recent years with dealing with a series of off-field disasters perpetuated by players such as Chris Tarrant, Alan Didak and Chad Morrison, the Magpies already this season have been forced to deal with West Australian rookie Sharrod Wellingham, whose drink-driving charge cost the club a Transport Accident Commission sponsorship worth $500,000.
Without singling anyone out, Fraser said: "My style would be completely different to what we've done previously. I'd sit down and have a chat with them but I wouldn't ear-bash them or bawl them out. I'd do it gradually and try to get my message across over a period."
The veteran Burns, who did not play in Dubai but flew home for his sister's wedding, is probably favourite for the captaincy role, ahead of Tarkyn Lockyer, who also openly stated his desire for the role this week. Youngsters Nick Maxwell and Pendlebury are also in contention.
"I'd like to think I could run the off-field stuff," Fraser said. "I'd have to have more tolerance of the meetings we need to have but I certainly wouldn't be creating any more than we needed. I can be fairly vocal when I need to when we're playing, but I could probably improve on that and speak up a bit more.
"I do think I would see it as more of an on-field leadership role but even if I don't get the job, I will be happy to support whoever does and stay in the leadership group."
Fraser smiles at his own words when he says: "That's what it's all about in footy now, isn't it? Leadership groups."
Clearly, a Josh Fraser-led Collingwood would prove a massive statement by Mick Malthouse and the Collingwood board. Equally clearly, the football club has moved on from Nathan Buckley — and there appears to be no looking back.
