If MFC had a better performing midfield and a more robust leadership group, then I doubt whether Junior would have been re signed for another year.

I'd like to add that, in Neitz's last couple of years he wasn't all that dissimilar from JMac. Certainly in '08 he was in much the same position. The only difference was David could have gone out on one leg and still have inspired the team to win. And that's not just words, as he actually did that late in his career. JMac is the same, only without the history and decorations as a club champion.

Neitz and JMac are both the "good" kind of pension plans you see with older players in the AFL. They deserve to push their careers to the very last minute their bodies allow them to play.

As above though, the playing list and leadership group should be prepared for James to bow out the way Neitz did. Through injury in the first half-a-dozen games. This is not to say that he WILL get injured, but the list should be prepared for the fact he will, just in case this eventuates. On the plus side, having had that happen last year, the younger guys will be all the more prepared to get on with the job.

I'd like to add that, in Neitz's last couple of years he wasn't all that dissimilar from JMac. Certainly in '08 he was in much the same position. The only difference was David could have gone out on one leg and still have inspired the team to win. And that's not just words, as he actually did that late in his career. JMac is the same, only without the history and decorations as a club champion.

Neitz and JMac are both the "good" kind of pension plans you see with older players in the AFL. They deserve to push their careers to the very last minute their bodies allow them to play.

As above though, the playing list and leadership group should be prepared for James to bow out the way Neitz did. Through injury in the first half-a-dozen games. This is not to say that he WILL get injured, but the list should be prepared for the fact he will, just in case this eventuates. On the plus side, having had that happen last year, the younger guys will be all the more prepared to get on with the job.

When the bell tolls the end of a career in sport it rarely gives warning of its impending call. This is exactly the case with David Neitz (and Hayden and Lee for that matter too). Neitz was finished early in 2007 and while admiring his club first attitude, it was a sign of the general malaise of leadership and performance at the Club that he continued into 2008. He was a shadow of his former self and it was embarrassing how stark his decent had become .Its was a sad ending for a club champion to look so broken and beaten on the field. I hope its not the same for Junior. injury aside Junior will be in our starting 22 first round. I am not sure despite his best and bravest efforts he will be there at seasons end.

In fact there might have been warning signs when Neitz broke down with injury in early 2004 and 2005 and he went out on one leg and did not inspire a win for the Club.

The unfortunate (and sometimes admirable) feature of sportsman is in the efforts to get the best out of themselves are often the last to realise that the game has slipped by them. While they might inspire younger players around the Club off the ground they clearly struggle to make a contribution on the ground. Players in the twilight who struggle or fail to justify through their performance on the field are not good pension plans for a Club. They are more reflective of the shortcomings of the Club in trying to squeeze that extra ounce of performance which clearly is not there.

The playing list and leadership group should be developed to push and strive in terms of playing performance and leadership to be the best they can. I have not like the position at MFC that leadership seems to be only capable in the hands of too few. I want tomorrows leaders to be better than the leaders we have now and to be more abundant and for each player to see it and take on the mantle themselves to be part of that leadership culture through the roles they play. Unfortunately that has not always been evidence with our senior players (some present and recently retired)

[i want tomorrows leaders to be better than the leaders we have now and to be more abundant and for each player to see it and take on the mantle themselves to be part of that leadership culture through the roles they play. Unfortunately that has not always been evidence with our senior players (some present and recently retired)

I'd like to add that, in Neitz's last couple of years he wasn't all that dissimilar from JMac. Certainly in '08 he was in much the same position. The only difference was David could have gone out on one leg and still have inspired the team to win. And that's not just words, as he actually did that late in his career. JMac is the same, only without the history and decorations as a club champion.

Neitz and JMac are both the "good" kind of pension plans you see with older players in the AFL. They deserve to push their careers to the very last minute their bodies allow them to play.

As above though, the playing list and leadership group should be prepared for James to bow out the way Neitz did. Through injury in the first half-a-dozen games. This is not to say that he WILL get injured, but the list should be prepared for the fact he will, just in case this eventuates. On the plus side, having had that happen last year, the younger guys will be all the more prepared to get on with the job.

Not that dissimilar to Lyon's last couple too.

Why is everyone getting their knickers in a knot about this issue they will announce the captaincy when they are ready so it's no big deal if it is Jmac good luck to him, for what it's worth I believe that DB wants to bring along a group of young leaders all at once for the future (gee haven't we been wanting this for a long time) but we must wait, oh I know we have waited for a long time but changing a culture takes some time and in the end that is what we all want.

Mclean appears to be the "captain in waiting" which is fair enough considering his struggle to get on the field. JMac is similar to Viney in thay his appointment is not seen as long term. If Brock wants to be captain in 2010 then all he needs to do is play 16+ good games of football, help the kids and lead by example. JMac won't play in 2010 and if they wanted Bruce or Green to be captain they already would be. Over to you Brock. But just remember in 3-4 years time the 2 Jacks will be ready if you aren't.

Not that dissimilar to Lyon's last couple too.

Lyon was not captain in 1998 and 1999 his final years of AFL football. After 11 games in two years previous (1996 and 1997), MFC politely retired Lyon from the captaincy with Lyon requested to focus on match ready fitness. The captaincy was then awarded to Todd Viney for two years who lead courageously and great impact in the middle.

At that time, MFC had either Viney and Stynes ready to take on the captaincy from Lyon. With both Neitz and JMac (if he is appointed captain) then this is clearly not the case with a natural handover or progression. Both have carried or may carry the captaincy on to the best of their abilities but at a time when the game has or is commencing to pass them by.

In the perfect world Neitz should have retired from the captaincy at the end of 2006. But given the leadership vacuum then and now there is no clear leader at the moment at MFC in Neitz's wake.

Hopefully this is being addressed at the Club with the likes of Watts, McLean and Grimes.

I'm as big a Junior fan as any, and in a way I'm glad to see that he will have the honour of captaining the club on his own, in the same way Viney got to after Lyon.

At the same time, I would have liked to have seen Green be given the responsibility. He more than anyone has earnt it, from where he began to where he is now. Especially in the last two-three years.

Junior may only captain for 12 months, like Scott Burns, so this decision is as much about tomorrow as it is today. A solid year on and off field from McLean would see him have it in 2010, but say he stuffs something up off field or has a long term injury in 09 - what next? Do you give it to Green or Bruce anyway? Can someone like Miller step up (he'll be the only key forward again in 09 for the majority of the season so he'll stand out)?

I think we're setting ourselves up for a fall a bit here. If McLean doesn't do enough to warrant it for 2010 then who knows what we'll do.