Geelong’s Joel Selwood is clearly the AFL’s best captain

KANE Cornes has picked his best three AFL captains — so who do you think is the competition’s best leader? VOTE IN OUR POLL HERE.

Joel Selwood (second from left) in action during the win against Port Adelaide.

WHAT a weekend it was for some of the game’s best captains.

Round five further evidenced that to be a successful AFL side, you need a strong captain.

It started on Friday night when Adelaide captain Taylor Walker responded to a week of fierce criticism over his form and leadership, by delivering a four-goal performance in Adelaide’s hard-fought 10-point win over Sydney.

Speaking to the media post-game, Crows coach Don Pyke admitted Walker had been unhappy with his effort so far in 2018 and Friday’s performance should be a trademark showing for the skipper.

His third quarter bomb from inside the centre square was a typical captain’s goal and clearly inspired his side.

Ollie Wines of Port Adelaide and Joel Selwood of the Cats.

On Saturday night it was Geelong skipper Joel Selwood who was once again Port Adelaide’s kryptonite. In 16 appearances against the Power, Selwood has lost only once.

No player epitomises the Anzac spirit more than Selwood. He was rightly awarded the Peter Badcoe VC Medal for showcasing skill, courage in adversity, self-sacrifice, team work and fair play.

At Etihad Stadium on Saturday, GWS co-captain Phil Davis was unflappable in defence in his side’s draw against St Kilda.

His desperate spoil on Jake Carlilse in the dying seconds of the match was the reason the Giants were able to salvage a draw. The unfashionable defender gets the hardest job in football each week and has emerged as one of the AFL’s most inspiring leaders.

Richmond premiership skipper Trent Cotchin will lead his side out in Tuesday’s Anzac Day Eve match at the MCG. Cotchin now sits comfortably alongside the games best captains.

Twelve months ago, Cotchin was yet to play in a winning final and his leadership was much maligned. The transformation of his game in 2017 was stark culminating in a finals series that will be remembered as one of the great performances.

Joel Selwood of the Cats is seen in action during the win against Port Adelaide.

In contrast, opponent Melbourne are still without their tenacious leader Jack Viney.

The 24-year- old midfielder hasn’t played a game in 2018 due to a foot injury and his side have sorely missed him.

For the Demons to taste finals success this year they need their fearless captain.

AFL legend Malcolm Blight says a captain can only be judged in hindsight.

“A premiership is the best judge of your performance as a skipper,” Blight says.

My top three current captains are:

1. Joel Selwood

Is the best captain in the game by far, providing the blue print of what a captain should be.

Brilliant player, courageous, inspirational and a model citizen off the ground. Truly a once in a generation leader.

2. Trent Cotchin

The reigning premiership skipper has improved his all-round game by 20% in the last 12 months. He now attacks every contest with ferocity and wins his possessions in more dangerous areas. The family-man carries himself with class off the field.

3. Phil Davis

Not yet a premiership captain but after two Preliminary Final’s appearances in the last two years he is well on his way. His direction, courage and consistency places him in the top echelon

WINNERS

1. Flourishing Seed

Paul Seedsman is averaging a career-high 26 disposals and a goal a game in 2018. He would be top-three in Adelaide’s best and fairest. His 12 contested possessions in Friday night’s win against Sydney was a career best and marked his most impressive performance in Crows colours.

2. Gov in defence

The big challenge for Don Pyke this year is how he juggles his giant forward line. After Mitch McGovern had no impact forward of the ball, Pyke went smaller and moved him to defence where he played as a loose man with great success. With Kyle Hartigan (hamstring) injured, the opportunity exists to persist with McGovern in the same role as his brother Jeremy, who executes it so well for West Coast.

3. Jake who?

On Saturday, Crows defender Daniel Talia sung the praises of young defender Tom Doedee on SEN radio. “Tom is going better than Jake Lever,” Talia said before admitting. “As a group we aren’t feeling the loss of Jake at all at the moment.” Well earnt praise for the immediate impact Doedee has made in his short career.

4. Fearless

Hamish Hartlett’s night showed enormous tenacity, returning to the field after a sickening head clash with Geelong’s Patrick Dangerfield. Hartlett was fearless in his attempt to spoil Dangerfield and highlighted the courage of the modern player.

5. Inside knowledge

Former Sydney midfield coach Josh Francou was the mastermind behind Adelaide’s win over the Swans on Friday night. The clearance count at quarter-time was 16-6 Adelaide’s way with Francou using his inside knowledge to quell gun Swans midfielders Luke Parker, Josh Kennedy and Dan Hanneberry.

LOSERS

1. Twang

Kyle Hartigan is the latest Crow to suffer a hamstring tear. He joins a long list of hamstring injuries at the club which includes Matt Crouch, Eddie Betts, Kyle Cheney, Lachlan Murphy and Sam Gibson. The Crows have the fourth-worst injury list in the competition which is concerning.

2. MIA — Charlie Dixon

Charlie Dixon kicked 49 goals for the Power last year and finished second in their best and fairest. In 2018, Dixon has managed only three goals in five games as a member of Port Adelaide’s dysfunctional forward line which sees 19-year-old, seven-game player Todd Marshall, sit atop the goalkicking list with nine.

3. MIA x 2

High profile recruits Steven Motlop, Jack Watts and Tom Rockliff are yet to make an impact. They need time to adjust to their new teammates and system but five games in and their collective output has been underwhelming.

4. Chris Scott over-reaction

Not one of the policemen or security guards surrounding Geelong coach Chris Scott reacted to a comment made from a member of the Adelaide Oval crowd as he made his way through the grandstand to address his team at three quarter-time. Some AFL coaches are demanding underground access to prevent them walking through the crowd, which is extremely precious if you ask me.

5. Not extinct

North Melbourne are the only club to have a dedicated tagger (Ben Jacobs) on their list. Jacobs was instrumental in the Kangaroos upset win over Hawthorn restricting Tom Mitchell to a season low 19 possessions. It is hard to fathom more coaches don’t follow suit.