New leaders Ryan Griffen, Nathan Jones join the AFL captains class of 2014
RYAN Griffen was in awe, Nathan Jones pinched himself and Nick Riewoldt was jealous of both of them.
Mark Robinson
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NICK Riewoldt, Matthew Pavlich and Darren Glass seemed as old and new as the modernised Adelaide Oval.
The elder statesmen of the current-day captains looked a treat ahead of their 14th, 15th and 15th seasons respectively, but not even their tanned, taut bodies and a genuine enthusiasm for the new season could disguise the fact that time doesn’t pause for anyone.
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“I do feel old,’’ Riewodlt said. “The first time I came to this day there was Buckley, Hird, Voss, Koutoufides, Peter Bell, David Neitz ... yeah, it goes quick.’’
That was the class of 2005 — Buckley, Hird, Voss, Kouta, Bell, Neitz, Ricciuto, King, Vandenberg, Simpson, Tredrea, Johnson, Maxfield, Cousins and Darcy.
The class of 2014 is Riewoldt, Pavlich, Glass, Selwood, Pendlebury, Murphy, Watson, Cotchin, Jack/McVeigh, Boak, Adcock, Hodge, Swallow, Griffen, Jones/Grimes, Ward/Davis and, of course, Gazza.
Legends abounded in 2005, but 2014 isn’t shabby either.
When careers are over, and when we’re comparing Selwood to Cousins, Pendlebury to Buckley, Watson to Ricciuto and Ablett to Hird or Voss, only then can we fully appreciate the legacy of the modern skippers.
Always on this day, there are captains with experience and captains with nerves, and all of them are captains with expectation.
Western Bulldog Ryan Griffen is the one of four virgins of the group.
A contemplative soul rather than a boisterous man among men, Griffen was taken like many first-timers before him. “It’s exciting, just looking around and being among so many champions of the game,’’ he said.
But if anyone has earned the right, it’s Griffen. His game is finally elite, his running, burst and gut-busting, maybe the best of the competition and, at 27, he will lead the rebuilding Bulldogs for the next half decade.
“Over the past couple of years, I’ve taken my game to a certain level so I feel a lot more confident in the role,’’ he said. “It hasn’t been easy. When I first got to the footy club I didn’t say boo, but as the years have gone I’ve got more confident, especially with Macca (Brendan McCartney) over the past three years. He’s brought the personality out in me.’’
Still, when the boys gathered for the “selfie’’ yesterday, you could just make out Griffen at the very back.
Port Adelaide’s Travis Boak was a first-time captain 12 months ago, and he too was nervous like Griffen.
“And I was still nervous today,’’ Boak said. “Just the amount of quality people around, I probably feel like I don’t sit with the quality of the Watsons and Hodges and these sort of guys, it’s a little bit daunting but at the same time exciting.’’
At the start of 2013, even Port Adelaide wondered if Boak was an A grader. But by season’s end, Boak and his team had proved their worth.
“I want to drive myself to be the best captain I can be,’’ he said. “I don’t want to be anyone else, I just want to be the best person, the best leader I can for Port Adelaide.
“In the past, before I got the captaincy, I was so worried about my game, how I could improve my game, but once I got the captaincy and leadership role, it was all about becoming a good leader. I want to get the Port Adelaide brand back to where it belonged.’’
Selwood was missing yesterday, probably because of the hammy, Cotchin sadly lost a family member, and it was said Murphy had back spasms.
Demon Nathan Jones, another first-time captain, would’ve driven from Melbourne if he had to.
“I’m not over-awed, but I had to pinch myself to be in this position,’’ Jones said. “Four years ago I never thought I would be here, but at the same time I personally feel I belong and obviously I feel very honoured to be in this position.
“My whole career it has been horrendous in regards to on-field results, and to be bestowed with the privilege with Jack (Grimes), I think, we couldn’t be more excited about the challenge.’’
For all of Griffen, Jones and Boak, and even Scott Pendlebury who, it must be said, has played and talked like a captain for several seasons, there are those who are, with their teams, in their prime.
Luke Hodge is riding the Hawk wave.
“You just don’t want to fall away, like we did in 2009 and 2010,’’ he said. “In 2009, we probably didn’t come back with the mindset, but we hadn’t been through that before.’’
Yep, the Hawks are hungry.
And, yep, Riewoldt is envious. Not of Hodge, or Pav, or Glass, but the young fellas.
“I’m envious of those young guys because they’ve got it all to go through,’’ he said. “I’d love to be 21 again, doing it all again.’’
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