Options aplenty as Geelong looks to next skipper after Joel Selwood’s retirement

There are no shortage of options to replace Joel Selwood’s massive shoes as Geelong skipper. And one of the frontrunners says he would take the job ‘with both hands’.

Potential captain-in-waiting Tom Stewart will grab the role “with both hands” if he is pegged to take over from Joel Selwood.

For the first time since 2012, the Cats will need to appoint a new captain ahead of next season, after Selwood gracefully bowed out of the game having captained more games than any other player in VFL/AFL history.

Patrick Dangerfield and Tom Stewart were vice-captains this year. Picture: Mark Wilson

Stewart was join vice-captain underneath Selwood, alongside Patrick Dangerfield, this season and the departing skipper declared mid-season the dashing defender would “one day I reckon captain the club”.

While Dangerfield has been a long-time vice-captain, and was seen by some as unlucky to be overlooked to skipper Adelaide when the late Phil Walsh pushed for Taylor Walker to lead the Crows, Stewart is three years younger than the Brownlow medallist.

Four time All-Australian Stewart said he expected his name to be thrown up to fill Selwood’s shoes.

“I think that is probably obvious being vice-captain between myself and Pat but there are plenty of people who would be worthy of that role,” he said.

“If that is something that is going to be coming my way then I will grab it with both hands and do my best.”

Stewart and Dangerfield will be joined by a bevy of other candidates, including Mark Blicavs and Tom Atkins.

There is no shortage of experience in the Geelong list, with Tom Hawkins, Mitch Duncan, Mark O’Connor, Cam Guthrie and Zach Tuohy all members of past leadership groups at the club.

Mark Blicavs is another contender. Picture: Darrian Traynor/Getty Images

Blicavs said he hadn’t thought about who would step into the breach and it would take more than one player to fill Selwood’s void.

“I have only ever known the one captain, he has been unbelievable,” Blicavs said.

“It’s going to be a massive collective from all of us to step up as a senior core to fill his legacy.”

Star midfielder Cam Guthrie agreed the Cats would have to call on several players to cover for Selwood.

“(Selwood) feels like he can leave this club in a better place tonight because we do have guys coming through he can trust,” Guthrie said.

“He left the club in a better place. It will be tough to replace a guy like Joel Selwood. It is impossible.”

Originally published as Options aplenty as Geelong looks to next skipper after Joel Selwood’s retirement