Mick Malthouse: The captains who can shape the premiership race

A captain doesn’t win or lose games but a good leader can change of the course of a contest and inspire teammates to perform. Mick Malthouses assesses the captains still in the finals hunt.

AFL captains Trent Cotchin, Dyson Heppell and Easton Wood.

There’s a big difference between the top five teams and the teams still hustling to complete the final eight.

Leadership.

If you’re looking for a barometer, a sign of how today’s games will pan out for instance, look at the on-field leadership group of each team. Observe how they start the game. How they respond when the game is in the balance. How they finish off.

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Are they leading by example? Are they directing play and conveying the coach’s message respectfully? Is their effort enough to lift and inspire their teammates?

A captain doesn’t single-handedly win or lose a game for his team, but how he and his deputies lead, or don’t lead, is a big reason why some teams are so frustratingly inconsistent.

There are teams who always fight to the end — West Coast, Collingwood, Brisbane Lions, Geelong, Richmond, Hawthorn and Sydney.

Then there are clubs not as good as the best, but always prepared to give their best — Western Bulldogs, Carlton and North Melbourne.

Then there are the teams who you tip and cross your fingers that this week is an “up” week — Port Adelaide, Adelaide, Greater Western Sydney, Essendon, St Kilda, Fremantle, Melbourne and Gold Coast.

The up and down, rollercoaster, consistently inconsistent clubs.

The Saints, Demons, Dockers and Suns have already written themselves off so they are out of finals contention.

Trent Cotchin led the Tigers to the 2017 premiership. Picture: Getty Images

But for the Crows or Port to make the final eight, and the Giants and Bombers to advance through September, consistency will be the key.

To have beaten a top side, which each of these four clubs has done this season, their structure is in reasonably good shape.

Adelaide and Port Adelaide are horribly slow in the middle of the ground. The Giants for too long haven’t been able to consistently have their best team on the field. And Essendon is too inconsistent in using its dangerous pace.

But the one thing they have in common is that too often there is a malaise across the ground. If they get into a rut during a match, nothing seems to break that hold.

Leaders on the ground have to supply the impetus to change the course of the match.

Taylor Walker has been a major disappointment as an on-field leader. It’s very difficult to lead from full-forward, I’ll give him that, but his attack on the ball at times is unsatisfactory and his teammates notice it.

Dyson Heppell is a very, very good player, but I have yet to really see him rally the Bomber troops when it has been needed. In his third year as captain he needs to back himself more.

Ollie Wines and Tom Jonas, as co-captains are new to the role for Port Adelaide. Jonas is constantly under siege and Wines needs to work harder to be a role model. Both need to find their captain’s voice.

Dyson Heppell can do more to rally his teammates. Picture: Michael Klein

The Giants have hugely missed Callan Ward, in both football skills and leadership. It has appeared overwhelming for Phil Davis to have all the leadership responsibility on his shoulders.

Look at Joel Selwood. He regularly sets the tone for Geelong. Scott Pendlebury is outstanding in rallying his Collingwood teammates. Eagle Shannon Hurn sets a strong example every game.

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It’s not just the captain, but the leadership squad that lifts and carries the group.

Richmond is in the enviable position of having many on-field leaders who support skipper Trent Cotchin.

And it’s no coincidence that Brisbane chased Luke Hodge for his leadership qualities and he superbly supports captain Dayne Zorko.

The Dogs’ Easton Wood stepped into Bob Murphy’s shoes without hesitation and gets his team humming by getting on with his own job.

Ben Stratton has faced a steep learning curve in replacing crowd favourite Jarryd Roughead, but he is a coach’s captain and is heading in the right direction.

Good leaders have the respect and admiration of their peers. They look to their general for direction and inspiration.

Showing faith in the right leaders can be the making of the team.

I appointed a 22-year-old John Worsfold as West Coast captain in 1991. It was a lot to ask of a young player. But when a statement needed to be made, he delivered. He led from the front, always, and the team followed.

Easton Wood has seamlessly stepped into Bob Murphy’s shoes. Picture: Getty Images

In one of the greatest Grand Finals I have been part of, Nathan Buckley was awarded the 2002 Norm Smith Medal. That is as much as you can ask for from your captain.

He rallied his teammates and we almost snatched an incredible against-the-odds victory.

Nick Maxwell’s outstanding ability to direct on the ground earned him complete loyalty from the player group. He showed his Magpie teammates the way to a premiership.

In today’s football coaches rely on their leaders more than ever — particularly with limited use of the runner.

The captain ensures that the game strategies remain in place, and at times, to second guess the coach when the game plan needs altering.

This finals series will be defined by the on-field leaders. It will be interesting to see how Zorko handles the pressure of September. Selwood’s output isn’t up to previous years but his leadership will be instrumental.

Cotchin has been in and out with injury, but his captaincy will be critical.

Leadership can be a triumph or a catastrophe.

Some players demand it. Some are overwhelmed by it. Some sink with it. Some are elevated to their highest level.

Finals football doesn’t like inconsistency. It’s consistency that wins premierships.

Consistent intensity. Consistent hunger. Consistent form. And consistently strong leadership.