Murray MiddletonCollingwood Captain Must Stand Down
April 29th 2008 12:24
After six rounds Collingwood has won three matches and lost three. Last Friday they defeated Essendon by 73 points - a result that should provide the foundations of a good season. In the next three weeks they play Hawthorn, Geelong and St. Kilda. If the Pies can manage to win two of these matches, their season will be on track. It will not be easy. Collingwood has lost to Brisbane, Carlton and North Melbourne. They are not the type of matches that a team of Collingwood's stature should lose. In the Brisbane and North Melbourne losses they allowed sizeable last quarter leads to erode. In both instances the losses might have been averted by greater on-field leadership.
At the end of 2007 Nathan Buckley retired. When the Pies searched for a new captain in the off season they seemed to have a wealth of options: Fraser, Lockyer, Rocca, Shaw, Pendlebury. On the brink of the 2008 season Scott Burns was the surprise choice as captain. The move has not worked. Burns - who is waiting to play his 250th match - has been sidelined for several weeks. He cannot captain the side from the stands. Although the club is adament that Burns' return is imminent, it is unlikely that he will be any more than a rotation player.
There is little doubt that Burns is in his last season as an AFL player. His appointment was widely viewed as a stop-gap measure. Considering the leadership options available to the club, there was no need for a stop-gap. Such an approach is only necessary when a team has a lack of leadership options. Burns' poor run with injuries has been no coincidence. He is old and has suffered a range of injuries in the past. At this point in his career his attention should be turned towards getting fit and ensuring he remains fit - not captaining an AFL side.
Last season the Pies lost to Geelong by six points in the preliminary final. Their captain, Nathan Buckley, played only five matches. In essence, the Pies have played without an on-field leader since 2006. It is too long, particularly for a team who is in contention. In recent years James Clement has been regularly mentioned as the obvious choice to replace Buckley as captain. Unfortunately Clement followed Buckley into retirement at the end of 2007. It was time for Mick Malthouse to complete the changing of the guard. Malthouse has spent the past year marvelling at the young talent at his disposal. It is time that he puts his trust in one of his younger brigade.
Burns would benefit from standing down as captain immediately. It would help to ease the pressure on him and his team. The Pies will need him to be fit by the time the finals arrive. Josh Fraser is a good on-field leader, but will not be around forever. Tarkyn Lockyer is a similar age to Fraser. The Pies should trust either Heath Shaw or Scott Pendlebury with the role. Both play more often than Burns does. They have bigger roles within the team's structure. They have the ability to allow their actions to do the talking. And, most importantly, they will play for the club for the next ten years.
Although changing captains after six rounds may seem like a drastic measure, it is absolutely necessary. Collingwood would benefit from a changing of the guard. Burns' reputation will not be tarnished if he stands down. It will, in fact, be testament to his selfless nature; the very quality which enabled him to gain the position. The move iis unlikely to happen. But if it does, there is every chance that the Pies on-field fortunes will improve. Never underestimate the importance of a captain. If Collingwood had a good one, they might have won five games by now.
At the end of 2007 Nathan Buckley retired. When the Pies searched for a new captain in the off season they seemed to have a wealth of options: Fraser, Lockyer, Rocca, Shaw, Pendlebury. On the brink of the 2008 season Scott Burns was the surprise choice as captain. The move has not worked. Burns - who is waiting to play his 250th match - has been sidelined for several weeks. He cannot captain the side from the stands. Although the club is adament that Burns' return is imminent, it is unlikely that he will be any more than a rotation player.
There is little doubt that Burns is in his last season as an AFL player. His appointment was widely viewed as a stop-gap measure. Considering the leadership options available to the club, there was no need for a stop-gap. Such an approach is only necessary when a team has a lack of leadership options. Burns' poor run with injuries has been no coincidence. He is old and has suffered a range of injuries in the past. At this point in his career his attention should be turned towards getting fit and ensuring he remains fit - not captaining an AFL side.
Last season the Pies lost to Geelong by six points in the preliminary final. Their captain, Nathan Buckley, played only five matches. In essence, the Pies have played without an on-field leader since 2006. It is too long, particularly for a team who is in contention. In recent years James Clement has been regularly mentioned as the obvious choice to replace Buckley as captain. Unfortunately Clement followed Buckley into retirement at the end of 2007. It was time for Mick Malthouse to complete the changing of the guard. Malthouse has spent the past year marvelling at the young talent at his disposal. It is time that he puts his trust in one of his younger brigade.
Burns would benefit from standing down as captain immediately. It would help to ease the pressure on him and his team. The Pies will need him to be fit by the time the finals arrive. Josh Fraser is a good on-field leader, but will not be around forever. Tarkyn Lockyer is a similar age to Fraser. The Pies should trust either Heath Shaw or Scott Pendlebury with the role. Both play more often than Burns does. They have bigger roles within the team's structure. They have the ability to allow their actions to do the talking. And, most importantly, they will play for the club for the next ten years.
Although changing captains after six rounds may seem like a drastic measure, it is absolutely necessary. Collingwood would benefit from a changing of the guard. Burns' reputation will not be tarnished if he stands down. It will, in fact, be testament to his selfless nature; the very quality which enabled him to gain the position. The move iis unlikely to happen. But if it does, there is every chance that the Pies on-field fortunes will improve. Never underestimate the importance of a captain. If Collingwood had a good one, they might have won five games by now.
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