Jon Ralph assesses the captaincy state of play at seven clubs as North Melbourne locks in Jack Ziebell for another season
Rhyce Shaw has hailed Jack Ziebell’s leadership during a trying season and confirmed the tough on-baller will be skipper again in 2020. Is a handover looming at other clubs? Jon Ralph assesses the state of play.
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Jack Ziebell will captain North Melbourne again next year after being credited with a crucial role steadying the Roos’ playing list during the turbulent coaching handover.
It comes as North coach Rhyce Shaw says the carrot of a Round 1 return for Majak Daw is there but he must win his spot amid tough competition.
West Coast, GWS and Port Adelaide made captaincy changes this week, with Luke Shuey taking over as Eagles skipper and Stephen Coniglio the new sole Giants captain.
The Power reverting to Tom Jonas in a sole captaincy role that saw Ollie Wines demoted to vice-captain.
Shaw told the Herald Sun Ziebell’s leadership had been underrated, not only having one of the best seasons of his career but also taking charge of an uncertain playing group.
When Brad Scott was moved on mid-season the playing group was said to be inconsolable but quickly united behind Shaw.
Asked if Ziebell, 28, would lead the club into a fourth season of captaincy, Shaw replied: “I would assume so. He is one of the great leaders I have seen not only as a spiritual leader and out on the ground,” he said.
“He was fantastic. The burden he took this year, I don’t think a lot of people understand how much of a toll that might have taken on him and he kept standing up every week and did what he was told. And he did it to be best of his ability.”
At times Ziebell parked his ego and helped out the second midfield rotation because it was in the team’s best interests, finishing equal fifth in the best-and-fairest.
Daw has started the pre-season strongly after tearing his hamstring the week before a slated AFL return, but the Roos have just recruited ex-Lion Josh Walker.
If he can return to anywhere near his best he should be the starting centre half back but the Roos also hope Sam Durdin can continue his development and Ben McKay can make an impact as a tall.
“He is going well,” Shaw said of Daw.
“He is an amazing human being. Amazing. He obviously went through a bit last year, he has recently had a little bub Hendrix and they are going pretty well.
“The sleepless nights for the big fella, he loves his sleep so that’s knocked him around a little bit but he’s in a good spot. He has got great friends here and the boys rally around him and let’s just hope he gets a good shot at him He is in a good space fingers mentally so fingers crossed.
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“I have said (there is a Round 1 spot there) to a number of blokes. I think that’s what we have to be, we have to be competitive. Maj understands where he sits, he has got to perform. When you have got guys like Sam Durdin who has stepped up in the back half of the year and maintained some really good form, Ben McKay is training the house down so it’s a really good sign for us.
“I don’t think you can promise it to anyone, but we know when Maj is up and running he’s an elite defender so it would be pretty good to see him playing some good footy.”
Originally published as Jon Ralph assesses the captaincy state of play at seven clubs as North Melbourne locks in Jack Ziebell for another season