When you take into account, player age, attitude, and ‘personality’ (like it or not, they have to face the media), I can only think of a couple who might fit the bill… Langdon and Petty. Sadly they don’t consistently perform on the field, but name me one player in our group that does. Langdon at least has a good head on his shoulders and presents well before the media.

Someone mentioned Pickett, but as has been noted in other threads, he’s a shy retiring type who would have great difficulty in dealing with the media circus. Let him just concentrate on his onfield performance.

Edited June 29, 2025Jun 29 by hardtack

That's the sad thing. No one is coming through

Someone outside MFC

12 hours ago, adonski said:

Lindsay will take the reigns from Gawn in 6 years

Lindsay is a very good player in the making ( hopefully )..

But 6 years ... tbh i can't see Max there in 6 ( or 5 as the logic of notion suggests )

He'll be a (crossed fingers and toes) 300 game champ..

Interesting you see him going longer. Who knows 🤷‍♂️

👍

I trust that Rick Lever can get back to being a consistent performer and is the next best leader.

I wonder how Mcvee could go as the vice. He’s straight as an arrow and disciplined to a T. A drop off this year but poor pre season impacts that.

Lindsey down the track.

Trac and Lever.

44 minutes ago, Ethan Tremblay said:

Trac and Lever.

Trac is too focused on trac. I would go Rivers or Langdon with a new coach.

It’s getting to the point where we almost need a Jordan Dawson type to come in like happened at Adelaide a few years ago

Jeez we’re missing Gus 😔

Trent Rivers.

Trac - good for the brand.

(Seriously Trac or lever)

Clarry’s bandages. They held up semi well… Could still see the bit of mess underneath, but was hidden to a degree so consistent with MFC.

In all seriousness, I have no idea. I’m not in the Trac is awesome camp (I don’t dislike him either). And it’s not bc of last year and the brand—more because he’s not performing as well as we’d like. Same as Clarry except people are more likely to talk about Clarry around fitness.

I do like the idea of Langdon. He’s got a good head on his shoulders, not sure how the team sees him though. Someone on FB said Trac and Clarry as vice captain. I can’t picture anything worse for Oliver. Aside from performance concerns, he’s definitely not the type who’d be happy fronting the media etc.

So maybe a either Langdon captain, Lever vice or vice versa?

Edited June 29, 2025Jun 29 by 710 Asbury St
add last sentence for clarification

Vote 1 - Knuckles McVee.

Came in with zero expectations and has smashed it out of the park since. Cane see him being a Nick Maxwell type captain - backline focussed, team focussed, someone internally respected that isn't a 'star', not the best player on the list but someone absolutely 100% dependable.

21 minutes ago, Sideshow Bob said:

Vote 1 - Knuckles McVee.

Came in with zero expectations and has smashed it out of the park since. Cane see him being a Nick Maxwell type captain - backline focussed, team focussed, someone internally respected that isn't a 'star', not the best player on the list but someone absolutely 100% dependable.

Hold on, I like McVee, no need to insult him with the description ‘a Nick Maxwell type’ 😂😂😂

Trac really wouldn't make a very good captain at all. Serious derth of leadership at the club after Gawn and Viney.

💯 Claz

Not a shadow of doubt

Chandler shows great leadership qualities but needs to lift his game to another level. It still hurts to see ANB in Crows colours because he would have been a great successor.

Luke Jackson. We'll need to recall him from the fellowship program in the West.

I wouldn't have a clue. We are bereft of up and coming leadership.

If Trac was here long term I think he's the guy. At this stage I wouldn't even mind throwing the keys to Viney again until someone steps up and takes the brass ring.

Assuming Gawn is captain until 2027, (end of contract)

most likely captain for 2028 and beyond with another 60ish games under their belt would be Mcvee or Bowey at this stage.

Viney, Lever, Petracca, Langdon will all be a tad old, (32-33),

Nor sure it's the most pressing matter to be honest but in an ideal world it needs to be someone like a Max or Toby Green that is selfless, leads from the front, commands respect and is a good communicator and club ambassador. Which counts out pretty much everyone on our list. Many of the names already mentioned aren't even guaranteed a game every week.

Trac simply does not give me captain vibes, Viney's leadership season is coming to an end, Lever has the whole package but can he get his body back near its best.

Trent Rivers by a mile for me. Articulate when he speaks, players lift when he does, has shown no restlessness that we know of, really good team man and club man. He might not be in great form b ut form can turn.

Petracca bu the length of the MCG. Dont believe any of the rubbish in the media. At club functions, he is available to talk, passionate about the club and IMO the events have had a profound change in his attitude.

The injury, ,hospitalisation and close up view of others seriously injured when he got to see real patients in the hospital. He is a model trainer, sets the standards and I believe would grow into the job.

On 28/06/2025 at 22:53, Wrecker45 said:

Who replaces Gawn as our next captain?

The obvious picks 12 months ago were Petracca or Lever but that isn't happening.

We can't go Trengrove & Grimes again and ruin young kids careers.

Rivers hasn't come on. Sparrow is floundering.

It really has to be Kozzie but I don't think he wants that responsibility and media attention.

Am I missing anyone?

Why was Petracca an 'obvious pick'. He's never (ever) been captain material. It's not about being a BOG, it's about genuine leadership character, and if there's one thing Trac isn't really good at, it's being genuine leadership material. It would have been ANB (there's a reason they've slotted him straight into VC at the Crows - he'll be captain within a few years). I'll put my two cents in say it will be Chandler.

Petracca and Lever will both be 30 years old by this time next year. Irrespective of anything else, I would have thought our next captain should have a longer playing career ahead of them. The only players I can see on our list who are in the right age group (say 23-27 years old now) and who might be suitable are Rivers (currently 23), Chandler (25) and Sparrow (25).

The captain doesn't have to be the best player in the team, but does need to be good enough not to have people questioning whether their position in the team is secure.

Also, there's much more to being a captain than being a great footballer. Most importantly (in my view) is whether other players are prepared to follow them. You can't be a leader without followers.