Chris Curran has thrived as co-captain of Glenelg in the SANFL
CHRIS Curran has excelled in his first season as co-captain at Glenelg, and his form in the win over West Adelaide has earned him recognition.
Glenelg defender Chris Curran admits his first season in the role of co-captain has proved more challenging than anticipated.
The player welfare aspects and one-on-one chats with teammates have tested his leadership.
Not that it has shown on the ground. In fact, Curran has thrived with the added responsibility of sharing the captaincy with proven leader Andrew Bradley and is enjoying arguably his best season in his eight years with the Tigers.
Plus being injury free has enabled him to prove his qualities as a reliable and consistent defender.
“There is a balance between playing good footy yourself and stepping into the leadership role and worrying about other bloke’s games more than your own a lot of the time,” he said.
“But it is good to play some good footy. I’ve had (coach) Mark (Stone) as a bit of a mentor with his experience in the AFL system and been working with him to get better as a leader.”
Curran missed the 2014 season after having foot surgery and played only four hames in 2016 when he tore the hamstring tendon.
Last year he played all 18 games, however, and staying injury free this season has enabled him to have a massive influence in defence for the Tigers as they build a future under new coach Mark Stone.
That was no more evident than the win over West Adelaide at the Bay on Sunday when he took control of the defence and accumulated 32 possessions and took 14 marks in a performance recognised as The Advertiser/SANFL Player of the Week.
“I started on the wing when I was a young buck and had a few 30 plus possession games,” said Curran, 27, a physiotherapist in the first year of his medical studies.
“As a defender I doubt I have had it that many times. The back six worked well and I was on the end of the few.”
It was the Tigers’ third win in a row and Curran said the players were adjusting to the requirements of Stone and their roles.
“We are getting continuity, getting the same blokes together on the same page,” he said. “We are starting to build chemistry.”