The Captaincy

[Little Goffy 12,833]

You'd be hard pressed to find a more honorable person in the AFL than James McDonald.

On charatcer, he's an ideal captain.

On dedication to the game and team ethic, he's an ideal captain.

Last year he was an good player, the previous two years he was outstanding.

Not particularly troubled by injury, either.

He'll be a great captain, and fits with the Demon habit of one long term captain and one relatively brief one, over the last quarter-century.

Then we'll see.

I'm quite happy with it.

[Eastie Boyz 0]

You're right, you didn't. And i'm massively changing my tune from a few months ago.

But over the last few weeks i have come to see this as the best possible outcome.

I think his age is a good thing, as well as his attitude & the fact he may only have one year left. It lessens the pressure during what could easily be a very tough year.

Did you see the effect Richie Vandenberg had on Hawthorn?

Until recently I agreed with what you are saying, but I came to realise that despite the feelings of uneasiness there is actually no evidence to support this kind of thinking.

Was going to say exactly the same thing myself.

How many games did he play as captain? A dozen? Yet he had almost as much influence on their current list as Clarkson himself.

[e25 5]

Was going to say exactly the same thing myself.

How many games did he play as captain? A dozen? Yet he had almost as much influence on their current list as Clarkson himself.

My god, what I would give for us to have our own 'line in the sand' moment this season...

[Sir Why You Little 35,140]

I think it's a great decision to put junior up as captain. He has set a great example around the club for years, Made all australian sides.

I am sure he has the players utmost respect-and that is what counts out on the ground in the heat of battle and on the training track.

Well done junior and Good luck.

Make your captaincy stint a memorable one....

[Jarka 767]

I see this as the safe option for the club

[Carn dees 108]

Congrats to jmac, people who think hes not going to get a game well that your opinion the melbourne footy club must think otherwise to name him captain.

Also on the sponser side of things i dont think i sponser will be named any time soon.

On channel 7 news jmac said something about winning more games next year may lure a major sponser meaning they musnt have one up there sleeves as of yet.

[QueenC 74]

I see this as the safe option for the club

Well congratulations to James on the appointment.......

There are fewer people within this club that commands the respect and has the work ethic he has, but I do tend to agree with Jarka in that this is a safe option.

It may well still prove to be the right one, at least for the interim but there is no risk versus reward in this decision. Maybe that is for the best, but I am not so sure.

All that being said I hope that it is his attitude that gets drummed into the kids, as Junior has built a career on hard work and loyalty. His work ethic is second to none as is his commitment to team work Thus if you put all that together maybe the club has made the right call. At least for the 2009 season, beyond that there needs to be some change.

He has my support and best wishes for the coming season!!!

[rpfc 27,657]

Some of you blokes are kidding yourselves if you think that Macca doesn't deserve his spot in the best 22.

Just who is going to replace him?

Noone on our list deserves to be captain more than Macca, he is the only AA player FCS.

He won the Bluey in 2007 and suddenly he is the 25th best player on our list? Some on this site give our list of toddlers to much credit.

[Trisul 649]

The more to come: McDonald: I’ll lead my way

[pitmaster 3,138]

Ditto to what rpfc said.

This youth worship thing can go too far - now someone reckons Wats will be captain after McDonald. Why? Because he was the number one draft pick? That means Trapper coulda been skipper. How laughable is that?

They got it right and good luck to him.

[DemonWorshipper 298]

A very good decision IMO. McDonald will be a skipper in the mould of Viney in 1998-99, a veteran mentor to help bring the younger players through.

I would like to see how the leadership group will look for this year though as Junior will need a strong group of leaders around him!

[Pates 9,541]

I wanted McLean, but i'm not unhappy with Jmac as captain for 2009. I can't see him going on after this year, though, so it's a clear they have someone in mind to succeed him in one year and they aren't ready yet (I'd just about bet the house that it's Brock). What i am a little dissapointed about is that they didn't name him a VC, even if it was a co-VC.

Still it's well deserved by Junior, and once and for all i'm glad it's not co-captains!

[mo64 5,267]

I wanted McLean, but i'm not unhappy with Jmac as captain for 2009. I can't see him going on after this year, though, so it's a clear they have someone in mind to succeed him in one year and they aren't ready yet (I'd just about bet the house that it's Brock). What i am a little dissapointed about is that they didn't name him a VC, even if it was a co-VC.

Still it's well deserved by Junior, and once and for all i'm glad it's not co-captains!

If "they" refers to the football dept., by allowing the players to vote on the leadership candidates, "they" may not get their preferred successor to Junior.

[Dappa Dan 2,188]

JMac was the best selection in a year where there was no absolutely obvious choice...

The next captain will come from whoever, out of Brock, Rivers, Miller etc has the best 2009.

[Trisul 649]

If "they" refers to the football dept., by allowing the players to vote on the leadership candidates, "they" may not get their preferred successor to Junior.

(So far as I/we know) "They" didn't. They requested the players vote on each others leadership. Does it really matter that "they" might not get their currently preferred successor - with 12 months still to come? Lock it in?

[mo64 5,267]

(So far as I/we know) "They" didn't. They requested the players vote on each others leadership. Does it really matter that "they" might not get their currently preferred successor - with 12 months still to come? Lock it in?

The club email I received inferred that the players' vote was the determining factor in the selection of the captain and VC.

Last season it was clearly stated by the club that the leadership group was selected by the players' vote, and ratified by the football department. Unless stated there is any evidence to the contrary, the same process was adopted this season.

It's my belief that experienced people within the football department are more qualified to assess leadership qualities than a young playing list.

[Rhino Richards 1,467]

If the football department are ratifying the players decision and have established the framework by which the player vote then surely there is consistency of assessment between the players and the football department.

[TonyMelb 7]

If the football department are ratifying the players decision and have established the framework by which the player vote then surely there is consistency of assessment between the players and the football department.

Our heartiest congratulations to Junior also. He is the best choice at this time and as stated by others better than co-captains and a safe option.

It will take him a little time to settle in as he is not a natural at the public speaking side of things. Any has previously been pretty quiet. However his in not alone in that regard. most of MFC guys are pretty quiet, including Neita who was quite reserved in his early days.

Macca will do a good job and as a quality guy will represent the MFC well.

As to who should follow it is too early to tell but it is up to the youngsters to develop their leadership skills and this is one of the main tasks for DB, CC etc as they rebuild the club.

[montasaurus 0]

well done jnr and CB. I think the club have made the right decision for this season.

[Jarka 767]

Some of you blokes are kidding yourselves if you think that Macca doesn't deserve his spot in the best 22.

Just who is going to replace him?

Noone on our list deserves to be captain more than Macca, he is the only AA player FCS.

He won the Bluey in 2007 and suddenly he is the 25th best player on our list? Some on this site give our list of toddlers to much credit.

That's all well and good but you think he should be delisted at the end of the year...

http://forums.demonland.com/index.php?show...mp;#entry201188

I believe the AFL is considering making the enforced deletions 2 and not 3 while GC17 and WS are getting started.

Robbo, Macca, and Wheels would make way. Bell, Meesen, Frawley, Batram and Cheney would be on soft ground.

Pretty certain all are OOC, I'm reasonably certain we didn't give Meesen a 3 year contract but not entirely.

And injuries may bring the end for Moloney and Rivers ahead of time.

If you think he deserves to be captain so much why do you think he should be delisted at the end of the year? Surely if he's good enough this year he'll play for at least another season, and if he's not why pick a bloke on the decline?

[e25 5]

That's all well and good but you think he should be delisted at the end of the year...

http://forums.demonland.com/index.php?show...mp;#entry201188

If you think he deserves to be captain so much why do you think he should be delisted at the end of the year? Surely if he's good enough this year he'll play for at least another season, and if he's not why pick a bloke on the decline?

So do I. I think he's the perfect fit for captain this season, yet at the end of the season he will retire, and if not, be delisted.

Is there something wrong with that?

[e25 5]

So do I. I think he's the perfect fit for captain this season, yet at the end of the season he will retire, and if not, be delisted.

Is there something wrong with that?

Actually no. There's no way any club would delist their captain... but i doubt junior would ever let himself be delisted, he'll go with dignity.

[bjgc 0]

I just hope that they don't refer to him as another Vandenburg. Junior is better than that the only good thing Vandenburg done for Hawthorn was retire he was a hopless footballer. As usual we went for the safe option just as I thought would happen Bailey has shown the football world that we have been forced onto the youth policy instead of wanting a youth. We should be getting our youth to lead but we are not which is disappointing.

They must get rid of the stupid voting system. McDonald didn't have a great year and is 32 this is just another uninspirinig decision made by the coaching staff get ready for an unispiring season. If I hear Bailey mention the word competitive again I'm going to smash something. Get them into a winning frame of mind and competitveness will come with it. Getting the club into a competitve frame of mind will just provide the same results as last year. I'm trying my best to like Bailey but I just can't the sooner he leaves the better.

[Guest JACKtheRIPPER]

Actually no. There's no way any club would delist their captain... but i doubt junior would ever let himself be delisted, he'll go with dignity.

your a wild unit shaft.

[e25 5]

your a wild unit shaft.

cheers jack, i couldn't think of a better description

(that's not a challenge)