Who do you think is the best captain in the AFL and why?

[Rainfall]

The best leaders like Hodge, Riewoldt and Selwood are universal admired and stand the test of time.

Boak's team is flavour of the month and he's not universally admired at this point in time. Time will tell how history sees him. If Port drop off I am certain he'll be viewed as an average leader.

Your captain is average too.

 

[TigerTime3]

Your captain is average too.

I agree until he does something to warrant being held in the same category as a Joel Selwood, which could take years, if ever. Seems a bit quiet to me. Also doesn't play as tough as he needs to. He was told by teammates to be more aggressive on and off field this year, to which he responded well to his credit (although he then claimed he's naturally an aggressive leader but was trying to be nice due to the young list... I'm not so sure how truthful that is. His attitude at first was he needed to be mr nice guy instead of mr demanding). The first thing I will be looking for with Cotchin is how aggressive he is on-field next year.

 

[Rainfall]

I agree until he does something to warrant being held in the same category as a Joel Selwood, which could take years, if ever. Seems a bit quiet to me. Also doesn't play as tough as he needs to. He was told by teammates to be more aggressive on and off field this year, to which he responded well to his credit (although he then claimed he's naturally an aggressive leader but was trying to be nice due to the young list... I'm not so sure how truthful that is). The first thing I will be looking for with Cotchin is how aggressive he is on-field next year.

Tell him to hang around Dusty a lot more and it may come naturally, the aggression that is.

 

[Janus]

The best leaders like Hodge, Riewoldt and Selwood are universal admired and stand the test of time.

Boak's team is flavour of the month and he's not universally admired at this point in time. Time will tell how history sees him. If Port drop off I am certain he'll be viewed as an average leader.

Here's a story for you. A young Port player was discussing what he was going to dress up as on Mad Monday during the finals campaign and asking for opinions. You know what Boak said? "We'll worry about that when we win a flag, mate."

Meanwhile, Cotchin gets around in a dog collar after his team has just been humiliated.

One is an average leader. The other is Travis Boak.

 

[TigerTime3]

Here's a story for you. A young Port player was discussing what he was going to dress up as on Mad Monday during the finals campaign and asking for opinions. You know what Boak said? "We'll worry about that when we win a flag, mate."

Meanwhile, Cotchin gets around in a dog collar after his team has just been humiliated.

One is an average leader. The other is Travis Boak.

How do you know Cotchin didn't say the same thing to his teammates? Massive assumption on your part.

And he dressed up as KISS by the way. Sounds like a last minute costume shop purchase if you ask me. What did Boak dress up as? Any pics?

Joel Selwood dressed up as Jake King, it's part of football culture mate. Ridiculous argument to dismiss Cotchin due to what he wore on Mad Monday lol.

 

[Scotland]

"Spiritual leader"

We had one of those once.

Applecross triathlon champion 2006.

 

[Mike Williamson]

Geelongs finals record since Selwood has been skipper is 1-5.

1 win. 5 losses.

For all the bluster about how the cats 'just know how to get it done' and how Selwood 'gets his team over the line in big games', that's 1 win, 5 losses.

Including a straight sets exit, a prelim loss leading by almost 5 goals in the last and a loss at KP. The 1 win being a tight one against a raw port Adelaide.

Just saying.

What are you saying? That Selwood is a crap captain? Put your petty biases aside - Selwood is a gun captain, and will notch up 250 games in 2015 at the age of 25.

 

[Rioli magic]

Selwood is a gun captain, and will notch up 250 games in 2015 at the age of 25.

If Selwood manages to age in reverse next year and play 70 odd games for the season, I'll probably vote for him - that's amazing.

 

[Mr Meeseeks]

What are you saying? That Selwood is a crap captain? Put your petty biases aside - Selwood is a gun captain, and will notch up 250 games in 2015 at the age of 25.

Not saying much really. Just putting a stat out there that many would raise their eyebrows at.

If you are discussing the BEST captain in the ENTIRE league, you would think the finals record would come in to play.

If richmond had finished top 4 twice in the past 3 years, yet had a finals record of 1 win, 5 losses, the media would be all over them, questioning Cotchin too.

Just saying.

 

[OhhhhhCyril]

Hard to go past guys like Hodge and Selwood, I think they both stand alone at the top, just my opinion tho.

 

[Cynic]

I hate Selwood but the guy is just a beast at forcing himself into games or lifting his, and the team's, game on his own. I'd pick Hodge as a better captain but if anyone picked Selwood I couldn't argue.

 

[Jables]

I'm not questioning his leadership credentials. My statement was he's never had to be the leader of a team that wasn't elite. I'm sorry, but when you win the flag and become premiership players, you automatically become an elite side. So even if Hodge had been captain after 2008...the point would remain the same.

For what it's worth, I do rate Hodge as the best, because he makes his teammates better. I'm just putting a hypothetical out there as to if he'd still be as highly rated if he didn't have such talent to work with.

I agree, if we hadn't won three premierships with him getting two Normies people wouldn't rate Hodge as a captain, hell some still don't, I remember the fat and overrated pointer jibes clearly but that's because most people want him to fail as they would any opposition star. Hodge got a special hate from some people because he gets the Jonathan Brown love from the media and some people, and while Brown got that love while the Lions were a harmless team Hawthorn have been elite for 7 years now.

People are ignorant and dumb. But as they don't get to see what a captain actually does with his team, most people just make shit up. I have no idea if Pendlebury is a good or bad captain, how the hell would I? I don't know why Jobe Watson and Selwood are highly rated as captains, they're awesome players but hell if I know if they're a good captain. I thought Vandenburg was a good captain for us. Only measuring stick is premierships I guess, but that's not fair to captains with teams that aren't good enough.

 

[QuietB]

What are you saying? That Selwood is a crap captain? Put your petty biases aside - Selwood is a gun captain, and will notch up 250 games in 2015 at the age of 25.

He's already 26 and has only played 184 games

Now, Hawks fans could make a reasonable argument that Hodge could be the best Hawks captain ever. He is at least in the conversation. Can cats fans say that about Selwood? Could you make an argument he is better than Harley or Ling just in the current era? Hodge has Mitchell covered easily for leadership.

 

[Footy 1st]

1. Hodge - brilliant player that will sacrifice his game & risk injury for his team
2. Boak - everything I said about Hodge minus 30%
3. Jones - this guy literally bleeds for his team (others that duck bleed for themselves)
4. The rest, majority worry about own game 70% team game 30%

 

[romeoh]

Riewoldt -has stood up for years in a club that has never been easy to lead. Selwood and Hodge are very good leaders but they are at clubs with good admins, plenty of money, terrific teams, well coached-anyone could captain the Hawks for instance, or Geelong in that golden era when Selwood took over. Riewoldt has often been faced with a basket case admin, money woes, ordinary or young team, limiting injuries. Just think he is so impressive.

 

[Lunchlady Doris]

He's already 26 and has only played 184 games

Now, Hawks fans could make a reasonable argument that Hodge could be the best Hawks captain ever. He is at least in the conversation. Can cats fans say that about Selwood? Could you make an argument he is better than Harley or Ling just in the current era? Hodge has Mitchell covered easily for leadership.

How is this in any way relevant?

Mitchell was an average captain therefore Hodge is a better captain than Selwood?

 

[Procrastinator35]

Riewoldt -has stood up for years in a club that has never been easy to lead. Selwood and Hodge are very good leaders but they are at clubs with good admins, plenty of money, terrific teams, well coached-anyone could captain the Hawks for instance, or Geelong in that golden era when Selwood took over. Riewoldt has often been faced with a basket case admin, money woes, ordinary or young team, limiting injuries. Just think he is so impressive.

True.....But he has also been at the center of some pretty distasteful scandals that seem to have flourished throughout his time as Captain at the Saints!

 

[Lunchlady Doris]

1. Hodge - brilliant player that will sacrifice his game & risk injury for his team
2. Boak - everything I said about Hodge minus 30%
3. Jones - this guy literally bleeds for his team (others that duck bleed for themselves)
4. The rest, majority worry about own game 70% team game 30%

Users should need a posting license before they're allowed to have any input.

 

[romeoh]

True.....But he has also been at the center of some pretty distasteful scandals that seem to have flourished throughout his time as Captain at the Saints!

Not sure he has been at the centre of all of them but still think he has handled himself quite well, managing mostly to walk fine line between loyalty to his friends and doing the 'right thing'. Not easy situations he has been faced with.

 

[Footy 1st]

Users should need a posting license before they're allowed to have any input.

Thank you Tony Abbott!
Selwood is a great player but to me uninspiring vocally & physically only in drawing frees... Anyone seen an 'L' plate?

 

[master bate]

How anyone could split Riewoldt, Pavlich, Hodge, Pendlebury and Selwood is beyond me.

Those first 2 don't have premierships but it's not like they weren't trying, they've got all the way to the big dance, more than the other 3 as well they built their successful teams around them, particularly for Pav and Freo. Pendles wasn't the Pies premiership captain and he's got to get the club through this rebuild, but I think he's earned the top billing as well. Selwood the same. Hodge, you simply can't question.

Watson, hmmm, the ASADA stuff looms over all things bombers. But he's either up with the top 5 or a fraction below. Boak the same, I think he just has to take his team to a grand final or even just another good year, a case we know he's fantastic we just need to see it. I feel the same way about Ablett, let's see a great season from the Suns and some legacy.

That's your top 8. Sydney's co-captains counter each other. Pick either one and they can be 9th or they can be 9th together. Bit unfair on McVeigh as one of only 2 still serving premiership captains to be 9th I guess. But the 8 above him are pretty fantastic and he's always shared it.

Nath Jones might be co-captain but I think on field he's the true leader. Same goes for Callan Ward. Both fantastic, Grimes and Phil Davis do what they do to support the other guys. That's 10 and 11.

Cotchin, Murphy and Swallow probably unfairly get weighted with problems of their sides. They are low hanging fruit to pick when discussing teams that have had some widespread leadership issues as well as some unfair expectations. All 3 aren't bad. 12 and 13, 14.

Adcock and Rob Murphy are perfectly adequate place holder type captains. And I don't mean that as a criticism, particularly for Adcock who's done a good job taking over a tough situation. 15, 16 but by no means poor.

Which brings us to Adelaide, where Van Berlo, Sloane and Dangerfield in any combination is fine. But it's hard to judge until we see which way it goes and if it's back to Van Berlo we need to see him play again. The same for West Coast - Hurn, Kennedy, Shuey, Priddis, Selwood, all decent candidates as individuals or in combination. But half a season on rotation doesn't count for much.

The AFL sure is blessed with fantastic captains. I think part of it is the nature of AFL. You can't be a gun player without being dedication, professionalism, displaying leadership etc. There's not enough hours in a day to do all that and get up to trouble and you can't be a star without it all. So as long as each team has a great player they'll likely have a great captain. I mean there's Franklin, Dusty Martin and Swanny but they are the rare exceptions. Then the other exceptions might be someone like Ryan Griffen! Guess it's worth making sure the player wants to actually be captain before you pick them!

 

[Docker Alyssa]

Travis Boak because he encapsulates everything that a captain should be, he was loyal through the dark years stuck with us because he loves the club. He leads from the front and has everyone following behind him, when its the last quarter and we need someone to stand up you can count on him to do it. He makes players around him better, and he sets the standards off the field as well.

True captain

(... Of course I am bias )

Travis Boak? That statement sounds like pavlich and fremantle have been more successful over more years under Pav than port under Boak. Hence the picture insert

I am bias. But if you asked neutrals who the best captain is I think you'd get a LOT of support for Pav. Given; his career, his achievements, his choices, his public presence, and his likeability. Hodge is only talked about because of being back to back captain and #1 draft. Hence the "easy" choice. Dig deeper its clear Pavlich is the master captain of the comp.

Anyone saying Selwood, is laughable. He is by 17 clubs supporters questioned for his integrity on the field. Courage can quickly be ignored if you are a systemic cheater. See; Jobe Watson.

 

[ROYAL EAGLE]

Hey mate, one of the mods said not to troll....

No troll
Glass took over captain at WCE lowest ever point.
He was our best player during the dark years, a clean skin.
He lead by example was the ultimate professional on and off field.
He helped turn around our culture.
He's a educated man and a very good public speaker
The players loved him and greatly respected him.
He was our general.
Multi AA's and AA captain.

 

[Procrastinator35]

Travis Boak? That statement sounds like pavlich and fremantle have been more successful over more years under Pav than port under Boak. Hence the picture insert

I am bias. But if you asked neutrals who the best captain is I think you'd get a LOT of support for Pav. Given; his career, his achievements, his choices, his public presence, and his likeability. Hodge is only talked about because of being back to back captain and #1 draft. Hence the "easy" choice. Dig deeper its clear Pavlich is the master captain of the comp.

Anyone saying Selwood, is laughable. He is by 17 clubs supporters questioned for his integrity on the field. Courage can quickly be ignored if you are a systemic cheater. See; Jobe Watson.

It's a good point you raise here....Pavlich has now been Captain for 8 Seasons as compared to Watson's 5, Hodge's 4, Selwood's 3 & Boak's 2!....Only Riewoldt at 9 years, has given more service as leader than Pavlich.....Definitely underrated & a bona-fide super-star who belongs front & center to the conversation!

Like Riewoldt, probably more difficult to have a constant impact as a key position marking forward, in comparison to midfield Captain's!

 

[Mitchell19]

What are you saying? That Selwood is a crap captain? Put your petty biases aside - Selwood is a gun captain, and will notch up 250 games in 2015 at the age of 25.

Huh?? Selwood didn't even reach 170 games by age 25. And that was last season FYI.

He's a SUPER player Joel but I'm yet to see anything that makes me think he's an outstanding skipper. 1-5 in finals doesn't scream inspirational leader to me.