Geelong vice captain Tom Stewart has singled out three Cats who could be leading the club when his time in charge is up.
Stewart and fellow co-captain Patrick Dangerfield were appointed at the start of this year as Joel Selwood’s successors and are hitting their groove as a leadership duo.
But with Dangerfield 33 years of age and Stewart also on the wrong side of 30, the pairing won’t be leading the Cats forever.
Speaking to SEN Breakfast off the back of a fourth-straight win for Geelong, Stewart was asked about the next generation of leaders given the club's ageing list.
“I think there’s probably three or four that I’m really strong with,” the four-time All-Australian responded.
First on the list was Jack Henry, who’s currently sidelined with a foot injury. The 25-year-old is in his seventh season at the club and has cemented himself in Chris Scott’s team as an intercepting defender and more recently a swingman.
“He’s not playing at the moment but Jack Henry has really grown in that space. He came in as a rookie and had a different pathway, but the way he goes about his footy, he’s not the loudest bloke and he’s not the first to talk, but when he does speak his words come with a lot of weight,” Stewart explained.
“He’s one I really respect and he’s one I’m obviously close with playing in the backline with him.”
Max Holmes, coming off 22 disposals and five coaches votes against Adelaide, also copped a mention.
“I think Max Holmes is really developing in that space. He was a bit of a latecomer to football and this form on the field is really starting to show the type of player he’s going to be,” Stewart continued.
“It’s sort of influencing the way he’s leading the group too. As we saw on the weekend, standing up in big moments and playing some really consistent football.”
The final mention was saved for former VFL captain, Tom Atkins.
Plucked out of the reserves by Geelong in the 2018 rookie draft, Atkins has developed a knack for standing up with the game on the line in his 90-game career.
Given his leading from the front style and leadership experience, Atkins could complete a footy type rags to riches story if he one day succeeded Stewart.
“I think a different one, a bit of a left-field option, is maybe Tom Atkins,” Stewart added.
“He was a strong leader through local footy and then captained our VFL club for a number of years so he’s someone who knows exactly who he is and isn’t afraid to speak up and say the right things.
“I think that’s something that can’t be underrated.”
Stewart also paid tribute to the likes of Mark Blicavs, Tom Hawkins, Cam Guthrie and several others for their assistance in helping himself and Dangerfield transition into the new roles, a transition he described as seamless.
The Cats started the season by losing the first three after a remarkable winning streak to claim last year’s flag, signalling alarm bells for Cats fans across the country.
But Chris Scott’s side has since rebounded and are among the premiership favourites once again. A Friday night clash against Richmond presents the Cats a chance to announce on the biggest stage that they’re well and truly back.