Opinion Update: who will be the next captain - Liam Jones, Aaron Naughton or Ryley Sanders?

[DognBones]

When you look at Sanders' stats, he ranked in the Top 8 of all Rising Star candidates in every category except Disposals. So, although he didn't achieve a Rising Star nomination, the stats would indicate that he's not far off the best and that there's plenty to work with next season. Apologies for the copied formatting. (stats from footywire.com)

2024 Statistical Rankings​
● Ranked 2nd among rising stars in Handballs Per Game	● Ranked 3rd among rising stars in Tackles Per Game
● Ranked 4th among rising stars in Clearances Per Game	● Ranked 4th among rising stars in Stoppage Clearances Per Game
● Ranked 7th among rising stars in Centre Clearances Per Game	● Ranked 8th among rising stars in Uncontested Possessions Per Game
● Ranked 3rd among rising stars in Total Stoppage Clearances	● Ranked 4th among rising stars in Total Clearances
● Ranked 5th among rising stars in Total Tackles	● Ranked 6th among rising stars in Total Handballs
● Ranked 8th among rising stars in Total Centre Clearances

 

[grassman75]

But keeping Sanders may need to involve captaincy.
If he kicks on we won't be able to match dollars.
People do realise Sanders is a Tasmanian? And Tasmania is going to join the comp?
A thread talking about future captaincy needs to include all players, and all circumstances

Just because he’s a Tasmanian doesn’t mean he wants to go back there….

It’s like me….I'm a Victorian but I sure as hell don’t want to go back there

 

[grassman75]

Considering the 23/24 preseason fanfare, Sanders’ 2024 season was very disappointing.
His high number of games for a first-year player was largely because the MC were desperate to keep giving him experience and put game time into him, not because he actually deserved them based on his senior level performance.

Like most Bulldog fans, I still have high aspirations for the kid's career and think\hope his lack of pace last year was at least in part due to some form of undisclosed injury\physical issue, which can hopefully be addressed going forward.

However, to this point, in most of his AFL games he has looked a step or two off the pace, and a significant chunk of his possessions originated from senior team mates just trying to give him the ball to bring him into the game and give him some confidence. So, I think fans should leave any discussion of captaincy for the time being and wait until he has clearly established himself at the level.

On the bright side, his VFL performances remained promising and his ability to accumulate reasonable possession numbers at AFL level also bodes well, even if they haven't been particularly impactful yet.

It's a big year for Ryley, his ability to live up to the hype will have a huge impact on how we do as a team this season. First step, get to the point where he becomes a lifter not a leaner.

They can’t all be as good as Bont straight away….weve been spoiled

 

[Chicago1]

Just because he’s a Tasmanian doesn’t mean he wants to go back there….

It’s like me….I'm a Victorian but I sure as hell don’t want to go back there

And I'm an American but I sure as hell don't want to go back there(again).

On SM-A135F using BigFooty.com mobile app

 

[Bulldog rick]

Just because he’s a Tasmanian doesn’t mean he wants to go back there….

It’s like me….I'm a Victorian but I sure as hell don’t want to go back there

When I left Victoria to move to Qld my mates reckon the collective IQ in both states would improve.
But after 45 years up this way I think there was a flaw in their original premise .

 

[Proffessor]

They can’t all be as good as Bont straight away….weve been spoiled

Not expecting him to be grassman75

I think the club's major recent cultural issue has been an over emphasis on youth promotion based on perceived potential rather than actual performance, and it has hurt us significantly over the years.

Ryley is just a recent example.

I really hope he goes well in 2024, but he has got some serious work to do over the summer, because he was not at a best 22 level for a finals contending team in 2024. Hence talking him up as potentially the next captain, is more than a bit premature.

 

[Proffessor]

When you look at Sanders' stats, he ranked in the Top 8 of all Rising Star candidates in every category except Disposals. So, although he didn't rank in the Top 10 Rising Stars overall, the stats would indicate that he's not far off the best and that there's plenty to work with next season. Apologies for the copied formatting. (stats from footywire.com)

2024 Statistical Rankings​
● Ranked 2nd among rising stars in Handballs Per Game	● Ranked 3rd among rising stars in Tackles Per Game
● Ranked 4th among rising stars in Clearances Per Game	● Ranked 4th among rising stars in Stoppage Clearances Per Game
● Ranked 7th among rising stars in Centre Clearances Per Game	● Ranked 8th among rising stars in Uncontested Possessions Per Game
● Ranked 3rd among rising stars in Total Stoppage Clearances	● Ranked 4th among rising stars in Total Clearances
● Ranked 5th among rising stars in Total Tackles	● Ranked 6th among rising stars in Total Handballs
● Ranked 8th among rising stars in Total Centre Clearances

Sanders wasn't nominated for the rising star and unfortunately never will be as he is no longer eligible having played over 10 games.

 

[Dazb86]

Sanders will be fine.

Whether or not he was worth the 2 first rounders is up for debate but I have no doubt he'll be a 200+ gamer unless injury curtails his career.

 

[ScragCity]

I think our next captain will be Zac Butters

 

[DognBones]

Sanders wasn't nominated for the rising star and unfortunately never will be as he is no longer eligible having played over 10 games.

Edited for clarification.

 

[grassman75]

When I left Victoria to move to Qld my mates reckon the collective IQ in both states would improve.
But after 45 years up this way I think there was a flaw in their original premise .

I hear you brother and I’m only 3 years in

 

[Fossie 32]

Not expecting him to be grassman75

I think the club's major recent cultural issue has been an over emphasis on youth promotion based on perceived potential rather than actual performance, and it has hurt us significantly over the years.

Ryley is just a recent example.

I really hope he goes well in 2024, but he has got some serious work to do over the summer, because he was not at a best 22 level for a finals contending team in 2024. Hence talking him up as potentially the next captain, is more than a bit premature.

Can’t see that playing him hurt us - to me he was doing better than some of the regulars. Don’t think people are seriously talking him up as next captain

 

[Proffessor]

Can’t see that playing him hurt us - to me he was doing better than some of the regulars. Don’t think people are seriously talking him up as next captain

On the contrary, it hurt the both the team and Ryley.

His inappropriate selection not only led to us selecting a non-optimal team on numerous occasions in a highly competitive season where an extra win or two would have had massive ladder implications, and furthermore such unfair selection decisions clearly led to a significant level of disgruntlement within the playing group which ultimately lead to multiple departures at seasons end.

The pressures on young players trying to make their way in the AFL are tough enough without being caught up in questionable selection decisions on a regular basis, especially if you are struggling to meet high expectations.