Opinion Who Should Lead Next?

[TheUnicorn]

I know there's probably very little to no chance of this trade happening, but since it’s been reported, let’s discuss life after Merrett as a hypothetical. If Zach Merrett were to leave the team—which is unlikely—who do you think should step up as our next captain?

 

[dank420_]

Still time to delete this

 

[JayJ20]

Langford or Caldwell.

 

[Squeaky]

Inanimate carbon rod

 

[P Money]

Just asking this hypothetical question is a real eye opener about our list. We really have no-one that is capable of taking the captaincy. Not one single player. Of those few that may even be considered: Caldwell is too young and still developing his game. Ditto Durham. Langford might be somewhat of a leader (by Essendon FC standards) but does not strike me at all as a capable captain. Parish has never displayed leadership qualities.

McGrath seems like the obvious incumbent as VC, but IMO would be an absolutely horrid choice for captain. Is the on-field antithesis of a leader - goes to water under pressure, displays zero edge or passion, does not appear have the capability to drag others with him nor the gravitas needed for others to want to follow him. Whatever issues supporters have had with Heppell as a captain, double that for McGrath. Just no.

I'm gonna say this, if (of course a very big IF) Merrett was to leave, we would have to import a captain from another club. We simply do not have a viable choice.

This is a major issue for us regardless of Merrett's choice to stay or leave - our leadership is absolutely threadbare. Most teams would have AT LEAST 3-4 players that could comfortably and competently step up to captain their club - we have ZERO.

 

[Nifft]

Just asking this hypothetical question is a real eye opener about our list. We really have no-one that is capable of taking the captaincy. Not one single player. Of those few that may even be considered: Caldwell is too young and still developing his game. Ditto Durham. Langford might be somewhat of a leader (by Essendon FC standards) but does not strike me at all as a capable captain. Parish has never displayed leadership qualities.

McGrath seems like the obvious incumbent as VC, but IMO would be an absolutely horrid choice for captain. Is the on-field antithesis of a leader - goes to water under pressure, displays zero edge or passion, does not appear have the capability to drag others with him nor the gravitas needed for others to want to follow him. Whatever issues supporters have had with Heppell as a captain, double that for McGrath. Just no.

I'm gonna say this, if (of course a very big IF) Merrett was to leave, we would have to import a captain from another club. We simply do not have a viable choice.

This is a major issue for us regardless of Merrett's choice to stay or leave - our leadership is absolutely threadbare. Most teams would have AT LEAST 3-4 players that could comfortably and competently step up to captain their club - we have ZERO.

I'd say Langford at the moment. If Caldwell and Durham were a little more experienced I could see them in leadership roles. Also Duursma looks like he could have the right qualities.

If we'd managed to get Dunkley from the Bulldogs then he'd be a shoo-in. I wonder now if it would've been worth paying the 2 firsts the Bulldogs wanted? Especially if we could've used one of the future firsts where we had 3 picks.

 

[windyhill]

Caldwell , $1.01.

 

[LB#16]

Silly question as Zach won't be leaving but McGrath being captain is motivation to microwave my digital membership.

 

[Beerfish]

Draper the obvious choice.

 

[DonsRule]

We move quick don't we Zach's already out the door.

 

[boncer34]

Why is 24 to young?

 

[Schnitzengruben]

Definitely Andrew McGrath

1

Andrew Mcgrath

Age

26

Ht

180cm

Wt

83kg

Pos.

Def

Career

Season

Last 5

D

22.7

5star

K

11.6

4star

HB

11.1

5star

M

1.6

2star

T

6.4

5star

MG

252.9

4star

D

22.7

5star

K

11.6

4star

HB

11.1

5star

M

1.6

2star

T

6.4

5star

MG

252.9

4star

D

22.0

5star

K

11.0

4star

HB

11.0

5star

M

1.2

2star

T

6.4

5star

MG

219.0

4star

if he still isn't hurting too much

 

[Petrify]

Caldwell and it isnt close

 

[Corleone]

The dearth of leadership in the playing group is pretty stark isn’t it?

We really need to hope that Merrett stays on and we are able to recruit a group of young leaders to be developed underneath him.

 

[Nifft]

Draper the obvious choice.

For a jester's hat?

 

[NAB777]

Just asking this hypothetical question is a real eye opener about our list. We really have no-one that is capable of taking the captaincy. Not one single player. Of those few that may even be considered: Caldwell is too young and still developing his game. Ditto Durham. Langford might be somewhat of a leader (by Essendon FC standards) but does not strike me at all as a capable captain. Parish has never displayed leadership qualities.

McGrath seems like the obvious incumbent as VC, but IMO would be an absolutely horrid choice for captain. Is the on-field antithesis of a leader - goes to water under pressure, displays zero edge or passion, does not appear have the capability to drag others with him nor the gravitas needed for others to want to follow him. Whatever issues supporters have had with Heppell as a captain, double that for McGrath. Just no.

I'm gonna say this, if (of course a very big IF) Merrett was to leave, we would have to import a captain from another club. We simply do not have a viable choice.

This is a major issue for us regardless of Merrett's choice to stay or leave - our leadership is absolutely threadbare. Most teams would have AT LEAST 3-4 players that could comfortably and competently step up to captain their club - we have ZERO.

Ridley & Langford to name two

 

[Call Me Cake]

No time to delete this

 

[Kong]

menzie.

 

[ant555]

Someone we have not got yet.

 

[Howard Moon]

Merrett to Caldwell to Roberts.

Ten year plan done

 

[ghostdog]

Future leadership group of Merrett, Caldwell, McGrath and Harley Reid.

I think McGrath has leadership value as part of a group.

 

[Lore]

I’d go Merrett and Caldwell. There’s a level of grit and 110% from both of them that I like as on field leadership, although Caldwell is still young and everyone has room to grow leadership wise.

McGrath should be in there somewhere, but his media training needs work. Too much diplomacy, not enough sincerity/openness imo. Needs to be both supportive and have high standards, within the club and beyond the four walls.

Langford is more of an agitator but he wants what we all want just as much as we want it, and I think that should give him a seat at the table and some recognition among the players as something to aspire to.

Ridley seems to be the one behind a lot of the offseason 1%ers and should be recognised.

Redman always had that steel and white line fever that I admired about him, but idk if he’s has a recurrence of OP this year or what. Seemed to lose his fire.


I still want Draper on that trajectory too, but there’s a level of immaturity there still.

 

[crackers65]

Merrett, Caldwell, Ridley, Durham, Redman and Martin.
Club should be looking to develop leaders every year. You don’t have to be in the leadership group to lead and I think that could be our biggest problem. A successful club has people setting high standards across all parts of the club. I would be happy to see Stringer go as his standards are not up to being an AFL footballer. Because of the way he hasn’t looked after himself he will fall off the cliff very quickly.

 

[Nifft]

I’d go Merrett and Caldwell. There’s a level of grit and 110% from both of them that I like as on field leadership, although Caldwell is still young and everyone has room to grow leadership wise.

McGrath should be in there somewhere, but his media training needs work. Too much diplomacy, not enough sincerity/openness imo. Needs to be both supportive and have high standards, within the club and beyond the four walls.

Langford is more of an agitator but he wants what we all want just as much as we want it, and I think that should give him a seat at the table and some recognition among the players as something to aspire to.

Ridley seems to be the one behind a lot of the offseason 1%ers and should be recognised.

Redman always had that steel and white line fever that I admired about him, but idk if he’s has a recurrence of OP this year or what. Seemed to lose his fire.


I still want Draper on that trajectory too, but there’s a level of immaturity there still.

I agree about Merrett, Caldwell and Langford. Don't know about McGrath though. I think he's won best clubman for great attitude around the club, but he doesn't seem inspiring on the field. I think he should just focus on playing and not be part of leadership, but I don't know how they'd drop him from VC without it being a slight.

I don't think Draper should be anywhere near the leadership group. A while back I thought he'd be good because of his physical presence, I thought others might follow his example. However I don't see him ever losing that immaturity.

 

[thepokey]

So long as his body stays healthy like it did this year, Caldwell.