Kane Cornes has assessed which leadership changes, if any, all AFL clubs should make ahead of the 2020 season.
Inspired by GWS’ decision to replace co-captains Callan Ward and Phil Davis with Stephen Coniglio, the Port Adelaide games record holder has gone through all 18 clubs and identified who he feels would be best fit as skipper.
Cornes believes 90% of being a good captain is standing up and performing on game day with 10% leftover for everything else.
Check out the changes that should be made, according to Cornes 👇
“It is Rory Sloane. It is a no-brainer.
“Why the Crows haven’t actually announced this already is a mystery.
“He did a great job with Taylor Walker as co-captain. There is no one underneath him who is ready to take the next step.
"He’s the obvious man, give him the captaincy, stamp it now."
“I think Dayne Zorko has done a pretty solid job since taking over from Dayne Beams.
“I would keep Zorko as captain but I think in future, Lachie Neale will end up being captain of the Lions.”
“Sam Docherty and Patrick Cripps are the co-captains of the Carlton Football Club.
“It’s time for Cripps just to captain that club on his own. He did it all year, he put himself to a level where I think he’s a top-five player in the competition.
“He has got captain written all over him.
“Docherty coming back from two knee reconstructions, let him focus on getting his body right.
“Cripps should be the stand-alone captain at Carlton.”
“Scott Pendlebury should continue the captaincy at Collingwood for one more season.
“If Brodie Grundy decides to stay and sign, which we all think he will do long-term, he takes over from Pendlebury at the end of next year.
“But I think Pendlebury’s footy and leadership is good enough for at least one more tilt at being a Collingwood premiership captain next year.”
“No change. Dyson Heppell is a ripper, love the way he goes about it.
“He should be captain.”
“Nat Fyfe picks himself, he stays.”
“Joel Selwood is my favourite current AFL player, he is everything I love about a footballer. He’s the toughest player in the competition, he’s led that club better than any captain in the history of the Geelong Football Club.
“He’s done it since 2012, that’s a long time. It’s time for Joel Selwood to do a Travis Boak and just let him play footy.
“I feel like he got caught up playing different roles. They wanted him on the wing and took him away from his natural strengths of where he needs to be around the footy.
“Let Selwood breathe for a couple of years and finish his career with some freedom.
"Patrick Dangerfield has just signed for five years, I’d like to see a change at Geelong.”
“I like David Swallow and Jarrod Witts as the co-captains, keep it there.”
“Big tick for their move they’ve made with Stephen Coniglio.”
“James Sicily should be the new captain of Hawthorn.
“I thought Ben Stratton was highly disappointing in his first year as captain of the Hawks. He had some poor moments, his form was down, he had the embarrassing situation with Orazio Fantasia and the pinching scandal.
“Sicily has re-committed to the club, he’s played 82 games which is the sweet spot for experience. He’s matured, you don’t see the brain fades, he’s got captaincy written all over him.”
“Max Gawn on his own.
“Let Jack Viney focus on getting his body right and getting his form back to 2016 levels.
“Gawn is the clear standout leader at Melbourne.”
“I’d keep it the same with Jack Ziebell. I think he’s done a pretty good job.”
“It’s Hamish Hartlett for me.
“If Ollie Wines isn’t going to be the co-captain, which is what we are hearing, Tom Jonas can’t be the stand-alone captain from the last line of defence.
“One captain is what the Port fans want to see in their 150th year.”
“You are going to keep it with Trent Cotchin, the premiership captain.
“The interesting one for Richmond is who’s next at the Tigers? Jack Riewoldt and Alex Rance are of similar age to Cotchin.
“It’s not a massive issue for them but who is the next guy for Richmond? I was struggling to find out who could be next.”
“St Kilda is interesting, they’ve got an issue.
“Jarryn Geary, no argument, I think he’s super impressive. I would keep him with the captaincy but the issue that the Saints have got, there is no obvious replacement.
“It’s concerning for the club. The next captain for me is probably Rowan Marshall.”
“They’ve got three captains which just didn’t work. Luke Parker, Dane Rampe and Josh Kennedy are the captains.
“I’m stripping it right back – Luke Parker is the man to lead the Swans on his own.
“I think Rampe is a gun but he had questionable brain fades this year. Kennedy is of similar vein to Joel Selwood at Geelong but I thought his form slipped a little bit, it might be time for a freshen up.”
Comments made prior to Hurn stepping down.
“Shannon Hurn, the premiership skipper. Maybe just for one more year, I think that’s fair to say.
“I’d love to see Luke Shuey in time take over but not stripping Hurn just yet.”
“Clearly it’s time for Marcus Bontempelli to take over from Easton Wood.”