i dont like the idea of multiple captains. i think the importance of a captain is underated. of coarse there must be a leadership group, but give 1 person the responsibility as captain.

Sorry Sylvinator, the better teams have always had strong leadership all over the field. There is no reason why teams should have only one Captain. You would be hard pressed to argue that the leadership model of the Swans hasn't been successful. The role of Captain is important but shouldn't be overrated. I can think of a few acting captains who have led premiership teams (Tredrea, Dench, Hall). The major work is off field and sharing that around a la Hall, Kirk and Barry has been a plus for the Swans.

Like all things, at the end of the day, the best person or people for the job should get it. If it is still Neitz, no dramas; if it's somebody else great. As long as I get to see them hold up the Cup at some stage I'll be happy!

I think the role of captain can be overrated by some. By that I mean that if you're a leader you're a leader, regardless of whether you're 'in the leadership group' or front the media regularly etc.

Who's put their hand up this year? Past performance is a good indicator of the future. This was from a thread a few days ago (that no one replied to):

David Neitz stated in a newspaper article that he is considering stepping down as captain for 2008.

He also said he would like jnr mac to be next captain. What do ya reckon.

That Neitz is considering stepping down as Captain is old news - he's said previously that he wants to hand over the reins before he retires. Interesting to hear that he's annointed McDonald though.

Neitz or Green.

Personally I think a new coach would be better off going with the tried and true and laying the challenge to the leadership group to force the coach's hand in appointing a new captain.

Brad Green

Daylight

Brad Green

More daylight

Brad Green

Past the Mexican border through the U.S into Canada

Brad Green

Bit more daylight

Then Brock.

Followed by the rest.

Future leadership group

Captain - Nathan Jones

Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!!!!! You had to bloody well say it YM!!!!

(Put's hands over ears)La la la la la la, i am not li-st-en-ing!

Don't give the "future captain" jinx to Chunk! He could be such a great player, don't say it!

Ward 4 captain! Ward 4 captain! Ward 4 captain! Ward 4 captain! Ward 4 captain!

Can't see it being anyone other than Green at this point in time, if it isn't Neitz.

Thought i'd better follow it up with a serious post.

At the start of the year, like many of you, i would've said Brock in a heartbeat. To me he still embodies exactly what we need at this club. Hard at it, uncompromising, and no excuses football. The only thing that has changed is that this has been an extremely trying year for him, both injuries and poor form due to getting the first tagger.

So i think we'll need to have someone play a interem role of captain over the next 1-2 years to let Brocky get mature and learn how to shake the tag. I'd be looking to either Green and Jmac, Green has shown he steps up when given the captaincy role, and Jmac is a goer who never stops going.

I'd be leaning towards Green, pruely because of age. We don't know how much Juniors age will affect him in his twilight years, and i don't want to be stuck with a captain who looks tired. The only downside to Green is that he's not damaging enough for a captain, he plays more of a steady the ship role, not so much leading by example but controlling the way his team is playing at that time.

There isn't really anyone else who could step up into the role, Robbo comes to mind but small forwards are electric but unpredictable. He could kick 7 goals one week and get 2 kicks the next, and i think we need to have a captain in the midfield for a while.

For me, i would be happy to see brock have it and grow into it, but i think junior to have it for 2 years then hand it to the chooka.

If green gets it and i do think he could be a decent captain he will want it for 4 years and thats too long to wait for chooka.

Green should get it, he has shown this year he's prepared to back into packs and do some real tough things, Brock needs to concentrate on his game for a couple of years been very average due to injuries

Can't see it being anyone other than Green at this point in time, if it isn't Neitz.

It will all come down to who is our senior coach in 2008.

I did suggest on a an earlier thread like this that we have Neitz and Brock as Co-captains, so that we're sort on weening Chooka into a full captain but i think that sort of depends on how we come out of this year injury wise. Neitz is getting on and i know he said he'd like to have a year without being captain, so it's all dependent on what the new coach is looking for in 2008.

I did suggest on a an earlier thread like this that we have Neitz and Brock as Co-captains, so that we're sort on weening Chooka into a full captain but i think that sort of depends on how we come out of this year injury wise. Neitz is getting on and i know he said he'd like to have a year without being captain, so it's all dependent on what the new coach is looking for in 2008.

I think there's no point. Having Neitz and Chook as co captains looks weak.

It makes us look indecisive as we want Chook as captain but we aren't so sure so we split it down the middle.

Either bite the bullet and make Chook captain or let Neitz have one more year.

I'm not in favour of interm captains. It's all the way or not.

Give it to Junior, he's playing his best footy of his career and he's 30-something. He goes hard at the ball all day.

I would still love Neita to be captain, but he needs to let go of the reigns and help the new captain in his last year (presumably) at the club.

Can't see it being anyone other than Green at this point in time, if it isn't Neitz.

I agree with Nasher.......

And I have always thought that Green showed quite a bit of grit and determination, and has worked hard in different roles for the betterment of the team.

However his leadership has not been particularly consistent, but when he has been handed the captaincy in the past he definitely stepped up and showed a hell of a lot more within the role than any of the others (including McLean) that have been presented with the honour in recent times.

That being said Brad could still only be seen as an "interim captain" given the fact that McLean with all his natural leadership ability will and should at some point take over. This would be unfortunate because to me once you are named as captain, you are the captain, no matter how long you may or may not hold the post.

For Brock though he could well need a bit more time to get himself and his body right before being handed the extra responsibility. Although he could well end up relishing it. There is really no way of predicting the future. But we do generally seem to assume that Brock is definitely a captain-in-waiting.

But if given the role Greeny could end up being a fantastic captain, we honestly have no idea !!!

id like to see daniel bell in the leadership group. i think now we know what true potentional he could become and besides he has really good leadership. same with Bater

To me there are only 2 in the running for the leaders position....

J-Mac is in my opinion the best option.

Puts in hard yards all day, every day and is a bloke who was born to lead but with Neitz at the club he has not had the chance.... Would command respect and maybe some of his work ethics would rub off on the younger blokes (if they haven't already)

Cam Bruce is the other.

A lot of people seem to be under the impression that Cam is soft... But that is absolute crap! The bloke is a gun and if he has a strong summer then IMHO he is the only other choice apart from Junior!

Chooka is not ready!!

Born Leader = Yes

Ready for AFL captaincy = No

He is still figuring out just how to break himself free of taggers and still learning what it takes to be consistently good in the AFL.... Let him have 2-4 more years to get himself right up there with the likes of Judd, Cousins, Son of God, Bartel, Brent Harvey, Robert Harvey etc.

The kid should be involved in the leadership group but it is too early to give him the top job! I know he has been ravaged by injury but he is still a few years away!

Having said all that, if he was to get the job, it would not surprise anyone to see him mature after 2 games and an injury free run to blossom into a kick a$$ captain!

Two smokeys.....

Nathan Jones

Daniel Bell

Both have "Captain" written all over them!

Just the humble opinions of a man dying to see a flag

I honestly cannot say. Bruce or Green and neither one of those is particularly inspiring.

I think they should appoint Junior he is our most consistant and hardest worker for 2 years and hope by then a player like McLean or Jones can then just pick themselves like the same thing that happened in '98. Bruce, Green and Robbo let the side down too often. McLean has to get himself fit before they consider him for the captaincy.