AFL Daily: Live rolling footy news from around Australia for August 28, 2018
THERE is potentially six AFL clubs that could make a leadership change in the off-season. Here is a look at who could be stepping up ot stepping down in 2019.
THERE is potentially six AFL clubs that could make a leadership change in the off-season.
Here is a look at who could be stepping up ot stepping down in 2019.
CARLTON
Incumbent: Marc Murphy
Candidates: Patrick Cripps, Sam Docherty
Murphy has stoically captained the Blues through through one of the darkest periods in the club’s history. But he turns 32 next year and with prime candidates in Cripps and Docherty waiting in the wings not many would blame him for taking a back seat to try to enjoy his footy in the twilight of his career.
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HAWTHORN
Incumbent: Jarryd Roughead
Candidates: Isaac Smith, Liam Shiels
Roughead has occasionally bristled at questions about his form and speculation he could follow the same path as the likes of Luke Hodge, Jordan Lewis and Sam Mitchell and play elsewhere next year. Coach Alastair Clarkson has all but guaranteed that won’t be the case, but he turns 32 next season and is in the last year of his contract.
ST KILDA
Incumbent: Jarryn Geary
Candidates: Seb Ross, Jack Steven
Geary has done a good job but he was probably always going to be a transitional skipper after taking over from the long-serving Nick Riewoldt two years ago. Steven has long been seen as the next player up, but Ross is a bolter who skippered the side when Geary was injured in round 11.
ADELAIDE
Incumbent: Taylor Walker
Candidate: Rory Sloane
Walker was criticised for some post-Grand Final comments in 2017 then endured a horror season marred by injury and poor form. He wants to keep the top job, but having pledged his future to the club, Sloane is the obvious replacement if the Crows opt for a change.
PORT ADELAIDE
Incumbent: Travis Boak
Candidate: Ollie Wines
Wines is the heir-apparent having declined a move back home to Victoria to sign a long-term deal. Boak has done the job with aplomb for six years, but he turns 31 next season and has spoken publicly about making a decision on the captaincy in the off-season.
GOLD COAST
Incumbent: Steven May
Candidates: Touk Miller, David Swallow
If May doesn’t sign a new deal before pre-season starts the Suns will surely have to make a change. The club has had previous skippers Gary Ablett and Tom Lynch depart and they can’t afford to go through a season with speculation over May’s future beyond 2019.
Originally published as AFL Daily: Live rolling footy news from around Australia for August 28, 2018