Murray MiddletonAre Pies Shaw It Should Be Burns?
March 7th 2008 04:15
Collingwood yesterday appointed Scott Burns captain for 2008. He secured the position ahead of a wide range of candidates, including Josh Fraser, Tarkyn Lockyer, Nick Maxwell and Scott Pendlebury. Unlike Carlton, who were seemingly forced into selecting Chris Judd as skipper, Collingwood had a number of players who were suited to the position. Importantly, they had players from all age brackets vying for the position, suggesting that the club has placed an emphasis on leadership when developing young players.
By Malthouse's own admission, Burns is a stop-gap measure. He is well respected by the playing group and has received the endorsement of his former captain and good friend, Natthan Buckley. Burns' appointment is just reward for a great career. Whether such a reward is necessary is an entirely different matter. The most interesting bi-product of yesterday's announcement is the question of who will captain the Pies in 2009? By appointing Burns, the Collingwood hierarchy have effectively ensured that this season's performances will be used to assess the leadership credentials of the likely candidates.
Scott Pendlebury will captain Collingwood some day. Reading between the lines of Eddie MaGuire's comments yesterday, he seems the man most likely to take over from Burns. But Pendlebury is still young. This will be his third season. Over the next few years he would be better suited to learning how to shake off the opposition's number one tagger, rather than having to contend with the pressure of leading Melbourne's most heavily supported team.
Nick Maxwell - a surprise candidate - came very close to landing the position. Since being elevated from the rookie list, Maxwell has worked hard on his fitness and his aggression at the contest. He reads the play superbly and has a good football brain. Maxwell is often the third man up in defense. But he does not necessarily have a set position. Occasionally Malthouse plays Maxwell forward, yet more often he plays as a mid-sized defender. While this is testament to Maxwell's flexibility, it also shows that he is not yet an accomplished player. Although Maxwell may command a position in Collingwood's leadership group, he is not, nor will he ever be, captaincy material.
Josh Fraser is in an interesting position. When he was selected at number one in the 1999 National Draft he immediately showed great poise when dealing with the media. This was a sign of the temperament needed to be an elite athlete in the modern era. Fraser gives the impression of a composed and insightful person when pressed on football matters. He has been a good ruckman/forward for Collingwood. His three goals in the 2002 Grand Final almost got them over the line against Brisbane. His celebration after goaling with a banana kick midway through the last quarter of that game remains one of the most endearing images of modern football.
Fraser stood down from the leadership group last season under mysterious circumstances. It has since come to light that he wanted to apply his attention to his deteriorating body. It was a selfless decision. If Fraser had have been fit to play Geelong in the preliminary final - as opposed to the fickle Guy Richards - who knows what might have happened? Fraser has returned to Collingwood's leadership group and would make a great captain in 2009 if he can get his body right.
Tarkyn Lockyer is not out of the running to be captain in 2009. He began his career during the Tony Shaw era. He knows what it is like to be down. No one will have enjoyed Collingwood's recent rise up the ladder more than Lockyer. Like Maxwell, he has survived because he is a thinking man's footballer. He is not blessed with speed or height, but he is neat with the ball in hand. Lockyer was famously given the kicking in duties when the Magpies were at their lowest point. He has successfully returned from a knee reconstruction and was unlucky not to gain All-Australian selection in 2007. Lockyer is a good clubman who is respected for his ability to get the most out of his footballing talents. But, at twenty-nine, he may be surpassed by the next generation of Collingwood footballers.
One player whose name has barely been mentioned in the captaincy debate is Heath Shaw. Shaw is still young. But he is more experienced and physically developed than Pendlebury. Because Shaw plays in defence, he will not have to contend with opposition taggers. Shaw is a big game player. He won last year's ANZAC medal and is a favourite among Collingwood supporters for his tenacious approach. Shaw fits the old model of captain. He plays the game like John Worsfold in his prime. He is couragious, hard at the contest and a natural leader.
Shaw plays with a maturity beyond his lean years. Unlike Fraser, he hasn't been hampered by injury. Yet he possesses the smarts of Lockyer and Maxwell. Shaw's name has pedigree. He is Collingwood through and through. He will be at the club for the next ten years. It is surprising that Shaw was seemingly not considered for captain. He is the standout candidate. A person need only watch the way he led Collingwood's backline in the absence of James Clement last year to understand his importance to the team.
Regardless of who captains Collingwood in 2009, the future looks bright. Names such as Rocca, Cloke and Swan haven't even been mentioned. They have great facilities, a wealth of young talent, high membership and several great candidates to be captain. The captaincy should not necessarily be viewed as a reward for long service. Tony Shaw's performance as coach demonstrated the problematic nature of such an approach. With any luck the Pies will come to their senses and run with his nephew in 2009.
By Malthouse's own admission, Burns is a stop-gap measure. He is well respected by the playing group and has received the endorsement of his former captain and good friend, Natthan Buckley. Burns' appointment is just reward for a great career. Whether such a reward is necessary is an entirely different matter. The most interesting bi-product of yesterday's announcement is the question of who will captain the Pies in 2009? By appointing Burns, the Collingwood hierarchy have effectively ensured that this season's performances will be used to assess the leadership credentials of the likely candidates.
Scott Pendlebury will captain Collingwood some day. Reading between the lines of Eddie MaGuire's comments yesterday, he seems the man most likely to take over from Burns. But Pendlebury is still young. This will be his third season. Over the next few years he would be better suited to learning how to shake off the opposition's number one tagger, rather than having to contend with the pressure of leading Melbourne's most heavily supported team.
Nick Maxwell - a surprise candidate - came very close to landing the position. Since being elevated from the rookie list, Maxwell has worked hard on his fitness and his aggression at the contest. He reads the play superbly and has a good football brain. Maxwell is often the third man up in defense. But he does not necessarily have a set position. Occasionally Malthouse plays Maxwell forward, yet more often he plays as a mid-sized defender. While this is testament to Maxwell's flexibility, it also shows that he is not yet an accomplished player. Although Maxwell may command a position in Collingwood's leadership group, he is not, nor will he ever be, captaincy material.
Josh Fraser is in an interesting position. When he was selected at number one in the 1999 National Draft he immediately showed great poise when dealing with the media. This was a sign of the temperament needed to be an elite athlete in the modern era. Fraser gives the impression of a composed and insightful person when pressed on football matters. He has been a good ruckman/forward for Collingwood. His three goals in the 2002 Grand Final almost got them over the line against Brisbane. His celebration after goaling with a banana kick midway through the last quarter of that game remains one of the most endearing images of modern football.
Fraser stood down from the leadership group last season under mysterious circumstances. It has since come to light that he wanted to apply his attention to his deteriorating body. It was a selfless decision. If Fraser had have been fit to play Geelong in the preliminary final - as opposed to the fickle Guy Richards - who knows what might have happened? Fraser has returned to Collingwood's leadership group and would make a great captain in 2009 if he can get his body right.
Tarkyn Lockyer is not out of the running to be captain in 2009. He began his career during the Tony Shaw era. He knows what it is like to be down. No one will have enjoyed Collingwood's recent rise up the ladder more than Lockyer. Like Maxwell, he has survived because he is a thinking man's footballer. He is not blessed with speed or height, but he is neat with the ball in hand. Lockyer was famously given the kicking in duties when the Magpies were at their lowest point. He has successfully returned from a knee reconstruction and was unlucky not to gain All-Australian selection in 2007. Lockyer is a good clubman who is respected for his ability to get the most out of his footballing talents. But, at twenty-nine, he may be surpassed by the next generation of Collingwood footballers.
One player whose name has barely been mentioned in the captaincy debate is Heath Shaw. Shaw is still young. But he is more experienced and physically developed than Pendlebury. Because Shaw plays in defence, he will not have to contend with opposition taggers. Shaw is a big game player. He won last year's ANZAC medal and is a favourite among Collingwood supporters for his tenacious approach. Shaw fits the old model of captain. He plays the game like John Worsfold in his prime. He is couragious, hard at the contest and a natural leader.
Shaw plays with a maturity beyond his lean years. Unlike Fraser, he hasn't been hampered by injury. Yet he possesses the smarts of Lockyer and Maxwell. Shaw's name has pedigree. He is Collingwood through and through. He will be at the club for the next ten years. It is surprising that Shaw was seemingly not considered for captain. He is the standout candidate. A person need only watch the way he led Collingwood's backline in the absence of James Clement last year to understand his importance to the team.
Regardless of who captains Collingwood in 2009, the future looks bright. Names such as Rocca, Cloke and Swan haven't even been mentioned. They have great facilities, a wealth of young talent, high membership and several great candidates to be captain. The captaincy should not necessarily be viewed as a reward for long service. Tony Shaw's performance as coach demonstrated the problematic nature of such an approach. With any luck the Pies will come to their senses and run with his nephew in 2009.
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