Luke Hodge has ranked the top 5 captains in the AFL so far in 2023.
The Hawthorn premiership captain has run the rule over each of the skippers and ranked them based on their 2023 form as well as the leadership shown.
See Hodge’s current list below, counting down from 5 to 1:
5 - Max Gawn (Melbourne)
“This is a bloke who has selflessly played a different role this year - Maxy Gawn,” Hodge said on SEN’s Whateley.
“He put the team before himself, offered to play a role that was not natural to him and he’s been the All-Australian captain in the past. He’s been a dominant person, a premiership captain.
“Then when the business season has come around, he’s gone back into the ruck, it has put some questions in and around Melbourne, but they’ve been winning games and he’s dominating. He won the game against Brisbane off his own back, his third quarter against Richmond was outstanding to turn the game.
“If he had have been playing this role the whole year, he’s probably pushing for top. But he played that selfless role and that’s the thing that I rate, is he decided to put the team before himself.”
4 - Jordan Dawson (Adelaide)
“He was impressive. It’s been a long season for Adelaide, but his football has been really good. He’s found the ball in and around.
“I guess it’s not his fault, but there have been other captains that have stood up throughout the season.
“They’ve had a couple of close games and I reckon he’s shown really good leadership for a bloke in his first year.”
3 - Marcus Bontempelli (Western Bulldogs)
“He could be a sneaky chance for the Brownlow.
“I saw him first-hand against the Giants in the first quarter have 13 touches. Cal Ward shut him down after, but his season has been exceptional.
“He’s hit the scoreboard with 15 goals and he’s top two for centre bounce clearances and he’s also had 17 goal assists.
“His season has been exceptional.”
2 - Toby Greene (GWS)
“This was a tough decision. I’ve tossed back and forth (between 2 and 1).
“He’s kicked 49 goals this year and averaged 18 disposals playing the hardest position on the ground as a small half-forward. He’s had 18 goal assists as well.
“His leadership on the weekend was exceptional. When the ball went inside forward 50, in a game in which we thought it would be hard to score, he made it look so easy. He kicked four goals in the third quarter and was the difference.
“I’ll sit back and listen to anyone who wants to argue for him at number 1 because I can totally understand.”
1 - Darcy Moore (Collingwood)
“The number 1 and All-Australian captain skipper at this stage for me is still Darcy Moore.
“I love the way he can control games. He got done by Charlie Curnow on the weekend but everyone has those games. He may have been a bit unlucky with three free kicks to Curnow.
“He is number 2 in intercept marks and just his leadership, early in the year they had a lot of injuries, it hasn’t been smooth and easy, but I felt that his defence across half-back and being able to set them up is still number 1 for mine.
“Maxy Gawn is coming with a charge and I’m open for any argument people want to have for Toby Greene.”