The Captaincy

[Little Goffy 14,853]

When you think about it, having -

a model citizen (McDonald)

who is completely selfless on the field (McDonald)

committed to supporting other players off the field (McDonald)

displays exemplary consistency (McDonald)

dedicated to training both hard and smart (McDonald)

humble enough to give future leaders space and opportunity to develop (McDonald)

consistent displays calm, measured courage (McDonald)

and never, ever drops his head (McDonald)

while being the most decorated player on our list (McDonald)

and having the total support of the playing group and coaching staff (McDonald)...

Seems like a reasonable call...

I don't think you'd find many players at Melbourne who pass McDonald on any of those counts, let alone most.

I don't think you'd find many players in the AFL at all who pass McDonald on more than a couple of those counts.

Bring on Junior's Juniors I say.

[Jarka 767]

  TheShaft said:

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?

If a guy is clearly good enough to be in the starting 18 and to lead the team why on earth would you delist him?

[e25 5]

  Jarka said:

If a guy is clearly good enough to be in the starting 18 and to lead the team why on earth would you delist him?

I think by the very end of the season the cracks will start to show for junior. He'll still be able to claim a spot, but he'll also be aware that father time has finally taken hold.

And I just don't think he's the type to hang around until he's pushed - as soon as the signs are there that it may be the end or close to it, he'll leave on his own terms.

This is my prediction & its pure speculation - but so is everything that has been mentioned as a drawback for choosing him as captain.

Having said all that, i'd love him to prove me wrong.

[Hellaintabadplacetobe 4,325]

I would have preferred Chook as skipper but he is probably not quite ready for the responsibility at this stage. I still beleive he will be skipper after Jmac whether that be in 1 year or 2! Despite that I am thrilled for Junior, he thoroughly deserves the gig. He may not be the player he was a few years back but he will demand courage and hardness from our young team and show them how it`s done in the process. 2 Blueys! That`s enough to sell me on him being our leader. Well done Junior!

[TopCorner 103]

go Junior. Hope you have a great year.

  iv said:

It is now done and I congratulate Junior.

I was hoping a sponsrsip annoucement might have accompanied this one, but not to be.

I hope a sponsorship announcement is comming soon though.

[rpfc 28,996]

Jarka - My feeling has been that McDonald would retire on his own free will at the end of 2009.

He will "delist himself" (i.e. retire) after 1 season or 2 seasons of being the Captain of this great club.

There is nothing wrong with being led by a man reaching the end of his career.

Leadership would be one of the skills that doesn't wane with age.

[Eastie Boyz 0]

  bjgc said:

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.

Hopeless players don't become captain or play 143 games of AFL.

Did he have great skills? no. Was he quick? no. Did he have a great football brain? debatable. Even his height (178cm) should have worked against him. Must have been doing something right to play that many games.

I spose you believe Brett Kirk is hopeless too?

[Roost It 1,434]

  Eastie Boyz said:

Hopeless players don't become captain or play 143 games of AFL.

Did he have great skills? no. Was he quick? no. Did he have a great football brain? debatable. Even his height (178cm) should have worked against him. Must have been doing something right to play that many games.

I spose you believe Brett Kirk is hopeless too?

Vandernberg was a very ordinary footballer who turned out to be a useful stop gap captain when the Hawks were the worst team in the league.

[Jarka 767]

  rpfc said:

Jarka - My feeling has been that McDonald would retire on his own free will at the end of 2009.

He will "delist himself" (i.e. retire) after 1 season or 2 seasons of being the Captain of this great club.

There is nothing wrong with being led by a man reaching the end of his career.

Leadership would be one of the skills that doesn't wane with age.

My wish list for a captain is for someone who is able to lead and inspire on the ground, as well as a very marketable person of it, it just seems bizarre to me that the so called 'only choice' is a bloke who everyone seems to agree on the fact that this is going to be his final year.

As I've said earlier I think the decision is more of a reflection on the lack of leadership we have on the list between the ages of 25 - 30 rather than anything about jnr himself.

[Jarka 767]

  Eastie Boyz said:

Hopeless players don't become captain or play 143 games of AFL.

Did he have great skills? no. Was he quick? no. Did he have a great football brain? debatable. Even his height (178cm) should have worked against him. Must have been doing something right to play that many games.

I spose you believe Brett Kirk is hopeless too?

Paul Hopgood played over 100 games...and if you look at Richmond's list there's been many ordinary players with 100+

[Eastie Boyz 0]

It'd still make him better than at least 95% of the population playing football.

[Jarka 767]

  Eastie Boyz said:

It'd still make him better than at least 95% of the population playing football.

lol, no [censored] sherlock, your powers of observations are amazing!!

I hope you're not saying that being a better footballer than 95% of the population is a good reason to be made captain...

[Eastie Boyz 0]

No. I'm just saying that to make it to 100 games it requires some kind of footballing ability.

When I say a good footballer I mean they have what is necessary to play at whatever level I'm saying they're good at. If you asked me if I thought Damian Cupido was a AFL footballer I'd say no simply because of his attitude issues, not because he couldn't play the game.

[Jarka 767]

  Eastie Boyz said:

No. I'm just saying that to make it to 100 games it requires some kind of footballing ability.

When I say a good footballer I mean they have what is necessary to play at whatever level I'm saying they're good at. If you asked me if I thought Damian Cupido was a AFL footballer I'd say no simply because of his attitude issues, not because he couldn't play the game.

Just because someone plays over 100 games of footy doesn't make them leadership material

[Eastie Boyz 0]

I didn't say that either - Richie was far and away a better leader than he was player.

[Jarka 767]

  Eastie Boyz said:

I didn't say that either - Richie was far and away a better leader than he was player.

So what was your point with the reference to games or are you just trying to get the post total up?

Hawthorn didn't start playing well until they replaced him.

[Eastie Boyz 0]

I was trying to point out that you don't just "happen" to play 143 games and captain an AFL side to bjgc

[rpfc 28,996]

I've said it before and i'll reiterate - James McDonald, 32, is the most decorated player on our list and deserves to lead that list over any other player.

McLean with Miller and Moloney (as VC's) was my initial preference, but on retrospect I think it would be premature to give McLean the captaincy after half a good season and 1 quiet off-season.

[Rogue 585]

  Eastie Boyz said:

It'd still make him better than at least 95% of the population playing football.

That's really irrelevant considering everything's relative - when people say XYZ is a poor footballer they're generally ranking him in relation to his peers at whatever level he's playing at.

Some of the guys delisted from AFL Clubs might be good footballers in comparison to all others playing football - and often go on to play well at state or district level - but in relation to AFL players are not 'good'.

[Wolfmother 182]

  rpfc said:

I've said it before and i'll reiterate - James McDonald, 32, is the most decorated player on our list and deserves to lead that list over any other player.

McLean with Miller and Moloney (as VC's) was my initial preference, but on retrospect I think it would be premature to give McLean the captaincy after half a good season and 1 quiet off-season.

I totally agree with you... Guys how to you remember Todd Viney... he was the capt for two years at the end of his career when we could of given it to a younger Neitz, that and he was similar to JMac guts determination not all class and polish

[montasaurus 0]

  Wolfmother said:

I totally agree with you... Guys how to you remember Todd Viney... he was the capt for two years at the end of his career when we could of given it to a younger Neitz, that and he was similar to JMac guts determination not all class and polish

Totally agree, Jnr has led some of the 1%'er stats for years not just at the club but the league. He is all australian, B+F winner, mature and plays with his heart on his jumper. Who better to lead this great club at this point in time? Many other clubs rotate players every 1-3yrs with out retirement so I think this is a great appointment irrespective of how long it will be for. in a few years I suspect we could well see mc clean or watts as cap (Carey was captain at North when he was 21 I think).

As usual a solid decision like this from the club draws critisim - Unbelievable, I can't understand why anybody would be unhappy with a true leader as captain of our club?

[Jarka 767]

  Wolfmother said:

I totally agree with you... Guys how to you remember Todd Viney... he was the capt for two years at the end of his career when we could of given it to a younger Neitz, that and he was similar to JMac guts determination not all class and polish

the biggest difference with this situation is that alot of people who are happy about appointment have pencilled in jnr to retire (or delisted) at the end of 09. A two year appointment I can appreciate however