Port Adelaide to review controversial co-captaincy model after just one year
Port Adelaide chief executive Keith Thomas has vowed to review the club’s controversial co-captaincy model that copped widespread criticism among members this season for bucking tradition. Tell us what you think by voting in our poll.
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Port Adelaide could abandon its controversial co-captaincy model after just one season.
Widely criticised by members and club greats — including 10-times SANFL premiership coach John Cahill — for opting for dual captains for the first time this season, Port says it will reconsider its on-field leadership set-up over summer.
Chief executive Keith Thomas said a decision on how that looks for 2020 — Port’s 150th anniversary — will likely be made in February.
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“It’s a contentious issue for our members, we understand that, and it was really difficult to get a handle on how that worked this year,’’ Thomas said after defender Tom Jonas and midfielder Ollie Wines ground-breakingly shared the duties this year following Travis Boak’s decision to step aside as sole leader of the team.
“Ollie was out (injured) for a lot of the year and I think both Ollie and Tom really embraced it.
“I thought they executed it well but we didn’t get to see it a lot (on field) this year.
“That will be something we will do, probably in the new year. As the (football) program comes back, they will look at the leadership model and we’ll have that discussion then.’’
Between them, Wines and Jonas played only 30 of a possible 44 games.
Wines played 12 — missing matches with a dislocated shoulder (suffered in a pre-season water skiing accident), broken ankle and broken thumb — while Jonas managed 18, being sidelined for four games with a strained calf.
Coach Ken Hinkley also left the door ajar for a captaincy change.
“We’ll review everything and how that went,’’ he said.
“We’re not going to say right now whether it was right or wrong.
“We’ll review everything and make some decisions with some clean air.’’
Wines said he was unsure whether Port would continue with two captains next year or bow to tradition and return to one.
But he said he enjoyed the two-captaincy model and being able to “bounce’’ ideas of Jonas.
“I’m not sure how it will pan out but from my perspective I have really enjoyed it,’’ Wines told FIVEaa.
“Jona and I, and I’m a bit younger than him, but for two guys in our first year as captain, just to have that other person to be able to bounce ideas off at any time, where no question is too stupid, I really enjoyed that.
“The other positive thing is that we both had injury interrupted years and when one of us wasn’t there, the other was able to take the load, so in that way I’ve really enjoyed it.
“But it will get reviewed, like it does every year, and when we need to make that call, we’ll make it according to what’s going to win us the most games.’’