Matt de Boer will captain GWS in opening JLT Series match but has bigger ambitions post-football
Matt de Boer will captain GWS in its opening JLT Series clash against Sydney but the leadership role is just the beginning for the former Docker, who wants to sit on the board of a big company once his football career is over.
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Phil Davis and Callan Ward have vacated the GWS captaincy this weekend, but really it’s Giants Chair Tony Shepherd who ought to be nervous about the changing of the guard.
Natural-born leader Matt de Boer will make his debut as an AFL captain in the Giants’ JLT Series clash against Sydney at Blacktown on Saturday night, despite the fact Davis and Ward are both playing.
It might only be a one-night only cameo as skipper, but it’s another step on the journey for the industrious de Boer, who behind the scenes is working his way towards one day sitting on the board of directors for a big company.
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Some footy players like to visit Las Vegas in the off-season. De Boer, 28, completed an intensive course at the Australian Institute of Company Directors.
And with a Commerce degree already under his belt, the Giants’ Mr Reliable’s new nickname of “skip” might soon be upgraded to “chair”.
Urged to complete the course by AFL Commissioner Jason Ball, de Boer feels he has learnt some new skills which can not only set up his career prospects off the field but also enhance the Giants’ leadership group as the club prepares for another assault on the premiership.
“I’m getting the skills to be able to sit on the board of a company whether it’s a start-up or as I get hopefully some more experience, to be on a larger company as well,” said de Boer.
“You learn to really help set up culture and strategy and direction and guide management under that.
“I’ve certainly got aspirations for that post-football, but football is definitely the priority at the moment.
“We’re right in the slot and excited about 2019.”
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De Boer might be the most over-qualified footy captain in AFL history, but he has promised not to rock the boat with too many new initiatives in a trial match where the Giants are trying to find their timing and confidence for the big year ahead against a Swans side also featuring a stack of stars.
However, he says being asked to take the reins by Davis and Ward is an honour he is taking most seriously.
“Even though it’s a pre-season game I still see it as a huge honour and walking around today some of the boys are calling me ‘skip’ which is nice,” he said.
“We’ve got great captains in Phil and ‘Wardy’ and even ‘Cogs’ (Stephen Coniglio), so I’ll just have a bit of fun and try and rev the boys up a little bit.
“For us as a team this weekend it’s just trusting in knowing you’ve done the work. It’s been a long pre-season and there might be a little anxiety around, (guys asking) ‘have we done enough? Are we ready to go?’
“It’s about reflecting on what we’ve done and seeing the data we’ve been able to produce.
“There’s a few changes in the game plan we’ve been able to execute on the training track and that gives the group and the leaders a lot of confidence going into the JLT where we’ll be still experimenting with a few things before full dress rehearsal next week and then Round 1 from that.
“There will certainly be some mistakes. So it’s just acknowledging that but knowing that we really are ready to go.
“We’ve got a really healthy list at the moment with a few boys still to come over the next few weeks which is great, but just the confidence in the group that we’ve been able to build over the last few years, it’s the start of a special year for us.
“It’s about bringing your A-grade effort and the rest will happen.”