Luke Hodge’s top 5 captains so far in 2024

Former Hawthorn captain Luke Hodge has ranked his top 5 captains at this stage of the 2024 season.

The Hawks premiership skipper has rated what each captain has produced in the first half of the campaign and how he has led his respective club so far.

See Hodge’s list below:

5 - Alex Pearce (Fremantle)

“He’s stood up in the backline. He started the season really well when they had a 3-0 start,” Hodge said on SEN’s Whateley.

“Their last few weeks have been impressive, beating Melbourne, drawing with Collingwood, beating St Kilda and losing to Sydney.

“He has been stable. He had a shaky part in the middle but I thought he has stood up and led that team, especially considering there were a few doubts around them as well.

“He works well with Luke Ryan. Having those two in their back end really sets them up as a group.”

4 - Max Gawn (Melbourne)

“What he’s been able to do as a player, he’s equal first for goals as a ruckman, he’s second in disposals and hit-outs.

“The part that has dropped him down is the inconsistent performances, especially of late, of the playing group.

“As a skipper the responsibility of culture on and off-field hangs a little bit on you. Their team on-field is a little bit shaky at the moment.

“Four or five weeks ago I could have had him a bit higher, but losing to West Coast over there and the performance they put out on the weekend (against Fremantle) has him sitting fourth.

“His own sole performance has been very solid the year.”

3 - Marcus Bontempelli (Western Bulldogs)

“After watching him on Friday night in that last quarter I’m sitting here shaking my head saying, ‘How can I have this bloke at three?’

“What can’t he do? Inside midfield he’s unbelievable, his size pushing forward, he gives goal assists, they’ve had a lot of injuries and he’s been able to deal with that. They’ve been able to handle a lot of the media pressure as well.

“I don’t think I could speak highly enough of ‘Bont’, how he is as a person, how he is as a player, and as a leader. But I think this year there have been a couple of guys that have just pipped him for certain reasons.”

2 - Patrick Cripps (Carlton)

“His side is sitting fifth.

“How he’s been able to do things and how he’s been so consistent over the years. Still in and under but being able to hit the scoreboard a little bit more this year.

“I’ve got him at two, the bullocking bull and leader that we know from Carlton.”

1 - Zach Merrett (Essendon)

“This may change (by season’s end), but I’ve got Merrett at one.

“I’m sitting there going, ‘How have Essendon jumped to where they are?’. First of all you need two-way runners. In the past he wasn’t a big two-way runner.

“This year he is running as hard defensively as he is offensively. He’s chasing, he’s tackling, he’s finding the ball, he’s averaging 27 disposals, he’s had 59 tackles, he’s kicked goals. So he’s doing everything there.

“Then I look at why is he above Bont and Cripps? I look at Cripps and who he has got around him. He has got Sam Walsh, Charlie Curnow, Harry McKay, he’s got other stars to help.

“Bont has got Adam Treloar, Aaron Naughton, Tom Liberatore in there (when he’s fit), he’s got a lot of other blokes that can turn the table for their sides.

“I look at Merrett who has a lot of role players in and around him, good team players. I think a lot of it has come down to them following their skipper. They’re following Merrett who is willing to do anything for other people, change his game, and they’re following suit.

“I don’t feel like their top end is as talented as other teams around them, but you can’t knock the bloke and his leadership this year.”

Gerard Whateley also ranked his top 5 captains:

5 - Max Gawn (Melbourne)
4 - Alex Pearce (Fremantle)
3 - Marcus Bontempelli (Western Bulldogs)
2 - Zach Merrett (Essendon)
1 - Patrick Cripps (Carlton)