Kane Cornes has offered up his thoughts on the best and worst captains across the AFL competition.
“Nathan Buckley isn't predicting a bounce-back year for the 2022 premiers Geelong,” he began on SEN Sportsday.
“And one of the key reasons is the void in leadership since legendary skipper Joel Selwood hung up the boots.
“Bucks feels we underestimated Selwood's impact on the team's remarkable success.
“So, as we all file our top 8s and premiership predictions, do we factor in the strength of the captain or captains enough? And do we teams have the biggest leadership advantage?
“Let's rank the skippers from strongest to weakest. Note when a team has multiple captains, I've picked the one I see as the dominant leader.”
See Cornes' list below:
1. Marcus Bontempelli (Western Bulldogs)
“He is the game's best player and also the game's best leader.
“Bontempelli selflessly plays whatever role his team needs him to play, is courageous and brilliant, plays when he is hurt and is ultra-consistent. Has been let down by his underwhelming teammates and sub-par coaching in recent years but deserves to be a premiership captain.
“If you are being ultra-picky, he could be more demanding of his teammates.”
2. Toby Greene (Greater Western Sydney)
“The All-Australian captain, has the intangible ability to put the team on his back and carry them, sensing a crucial moment in a game and impact at that point.”
3. Max Gawn (Melbourne)
“Gawn plays a different position to Greene but is able to impact in the same way, his endurance allows him to position himself exactly where the team needs him at any given time.
“Behind the play, a big mark down the line, inside 50 or influencing at the centre bounce. Has a calm, level head and is an excellent media performer.”
4. Patrick Cripps (Carlton)
“Has many of the vital attributes his coach, Michael Voss, had as a player. He's an absolute bull and one of the toughest players in the league. After suffering through 170-odd games without a final, he has a taste of what it's all about now – look out.”
5. Darcy Moore (Collingwood)
“An outstanding ambassador for his club and one of the best media and public speakers the game has ever seen. He has some brilliant in-game moments that ignite his side and the crowd, but he sometimes lacks concentration and lets himself down with some poor moments. Also, a question about his durability as he ages.”
6. Jordan Dawson (Adelaide)
“Adelaide knew something we didn’t when they fast-tracked Dawson to captain after only one season in Adelaide. Dawson is unflappable, impacts all over the field, is tough and courageous and doesn’t waste his words. Already ranks as one of Adelaide's best ever recruits.”
7. Lachie Neale (Brisbane)
“I feel Neale will grow into this role very nicely as he continues to take some of the focus off his own game and put it on the team, which was noticeable in 2023. The two time Brownlow Medallist has nothing left to prove individually; all that’s left is a premiership – his Lions are as good a chance as any to achieve that this season.”
8. Patrick Dangerfield (Geelong)
“Couldn’t be in a tougher spot after taking over from on of the best captains ever. Refreshingly, he does things his way and isn’t trying to replicate what made Joel Selwood great. Even at his age he wills himself into games and is as tough and competitive as anyone. Knocked down a few rungs due to questions over whether his body can still hold up for a full season.
9. Zach Merrett (Essendon)
“A big turnaround since being voted out of the leadership group only a few seasons ago. Works his backside to influence games and has addressed his defensive lapses. Has become demanding of his teammates but can't be considered in the top echelon of captains until he does it in September.”
10. Jack Steele (St Kilda)
“He can be forgiven for a poor 2023, considering the consistency he has shown in the years leading up to the down year. Needs to sense the big moments in games and influence them more often, but otherwise, Steele is everything you want in a captain.”
11. Callum Mills (Sydney)
“Despite the off-season mishap, Mills takes over as the sole captain of a team with a rich history of culture. He's less individually brilliant than some of the other skippers, but it's hard to knock any aspects of his game. Sydney is right in the mix to win it this year, and to do so, Mills will have to be fit and at his defensive and aggressive best.”
12. James Sicily (Hawthorn)
“12 feels low for Sicily, and it may end up being the case after we see him grow into the role this season. The 2023 All-Australian is as consistent and brilliant as any of the intercepting defenders in the game, and a big test for him this year is coping with the extra attention that is sure to come from the opposition. Let's see if he can go an entire year without getting suspended.”
13. Jarrod Witts (Gold Coast)
“Shares the duties with Touk Miller and does them admirably. For the club to launch into a new era, a change similar to Port Adelaide would be advised. It has to be Matt Rowell or Noah Anderson’s team from now on.”
14. Jy Simpkin (North Melbourne)
“Should be the sole captain of the Kangaroos (is currently co-captain with Luke McDonald). There is lots to like about him, but he can't be placed any higher when he presides over a team that has been nothing short of diabolical for too long.”
15. Toby Nankervis (Richmond)
“Will captain the club solo this year – but it’s a strange choice. Shuns the media spotlight and is too often undisciplined on the field. A real shame Dustin Martin didn’t put his hand up when Trent Cotchin stood down.”
16. Alex Pearce (Fremantle)
“Was always a bizarre choice as captain – as highlighted by his performance and his team last season. Remarkably, they didn’t cut their losses and hand the reigns to Caleb Serong in 2024.”
17. Connor Rozee (Port Adelaide)
“One of the youngest captains in the game and obviously too early to judge his leadership, but it's impossible to say a bad word about his game and his demeanour. Was the obvious choice to take over from Tom Jonas and the success of the side is in the hands of him and Zak Butters.”
18. Oscar Allen (West Coast)
“Will share the duties with Liam Duggan and will have the toughest task of all the 18 captains.”