Next Captain

[Thryleon]

Not being accountable?
There is nothing more accountable than winning contested footy all day and carrying your teams hopes on your back at the ripe old age of 23.
We can all role out the old, he didn't chase at the 12 minute mark story....
The poor bloke is probably exhausted after his fourth effort in 2 minutes and we want to judge him on his accountability?
I can't wait for Murphy to become accountable like that

The kid busts his gut week in week out. His body gets smashed and he smashes the opposition in order to give our other mids an easier ride.

It reminds me of posters on here questioning Judds accountability. Seriously screwing laughable

I understand you disagree, but I've seen Cripps give up on chasing men multiple times the last few weeks and this week vs West Coast, when they elected not to tag him, it didn't happen.

Collingwood did it.
North Melbourne did it.

he will learn from it, but the fact still remains that a quick opponent who could run off him could heavily expose him.

At AFL level if there is one thing I have learned from Murphy's captaincy is that teams look to exploit any weakness they have at any opportunity they can because beating the captain can be the key to winning a game and Cripps has weaknesses in his game that can be exploited.  That's a con, and its one that Kruddler missed in his summation.

I also believe Cripps will make a fine captain, its just something for him and the club to think about and work on.  I know a week is a long time in football, but the club, the MC and Cripps need to find a way to nullify that weakness irrespective of whether or not you believe it exists.

Finally on Murphy, we all know he has been an ordinary captain, but he works his dot off, and I can't knock him for that.  Hes not hercules, he has smashed his body from pillar to post in the clinches for us, and hasnt been durable and strong enough to endure it, and deserves a little more respect than the average punter gives him because irrespective of how badly he gets smashed he still continues to put his body on the line week in and week out, and Ive noted his tackling has improved a bit this season (lets not forget hes wrecked his shoulder twice playing for our footy club, and once they break they stay broken and make tackling difficult).

[ElwoodBlues1]

Cripps isnt going to chase many or catch them...thats just a fact, he isn quick and it will never be part of his game, he needs to get it 30-40 times a week to make up for it, like Sam Mitchell did for example..
Teams tag Cripps or they have a outside runner play off him and hope to hurt us that way, his teammates are going to have to provide cover and chase his man like he provides cover for them at the coalface.
Its a game of odds where you back Cripps to do more damage like he did vs WC....

[LP]

Finally on Murphy, we all know he has been an ordinary captain, but he works his dot off, and I can't knock him for that.  Hes not hercules, he has smashed his body from pillar to post in the clinches for us, and hasnt been durable and strong enough to endure it, and deserves a little more respect than the average punter gives him because irrespective of how badly he gets smashed he still continues to put his body on the line week in and week out, and Ive noted his tackling has improved a bit this season (lets not forget hes wrecked his shoulder twice playing for our footy club, and once they break they stay broken and make tackling difficult).

Lately I've read more and more posters making these points, why have they taken so long to surface?

This debate about captaincy is mired in stereotypes, perceptions and personal preferences. The irony for me is that I cannot say Judd was a Hodge or Brown type captain, yet he copped none of the invective Murphy has to deal with! Ablett Jnr is another, yet stat for stat Murphy is the closest we have to an Ablett Jnr type, and Ablett Jnr was unquestionably the captain! So what is the measure that determines good, bad or ordinary?

The majority of critical posts seem anchored in the realm that A-Graders and Leaders have to be a certain type of player, and if they are not that type they are NBG as leaders. I know fans do not believe that, and to continually demand it from players who clearly do not fit that mold is just bizarre!

The same posters do not complain when Casboult fails to play like Rioli, why do they ask Murphy to play like Hodge?

[DJC]

I understand you disagree, but I've seen Cripps give up on chasing men multiple times the last few weeks and this week vs West Coast, when they elected not to tag him, it didn't happen.

Collingwood did it.
North Melbourne did it.

he will learn from it, but the fact still remains that a quick opponent who could run off him could heavily expose him.

At AFL level if there is one thing I have learned from Murphy's captaincy is that teams look to exploit any weakness they have at any opportunity they can because beating the captain can be the key to winning a game and Cripps has weaknesses in his game that can be exploited.  That's a con, and its one that Kruddler missed in his summation.

I also believe Cripps will make a fine captain, its just something for him and the club to think about and work on.  I know a week is a long time in football, but the club, the MC and Cripps need to find a way to nullify that weakness irrespective of whether or not you believe it exists.

Finally on Murphy, we all know he has been an ordinary captain, but he works his dot off, and I can't knock him for that.  Hes not hercules, he has smashed his body from pillar to post in the clinches for us, and hasnt been durable and strong enough to endure it, and deserves a little more respect than the average punter gives him because irrespective of how badly he gets smashed he still continues to put his body on the line week in and week out, and Ive noted his tackling has improved a bit this season (lets not forget hes wrecked his shoulder twice playing for our footy club, and once they break they stay broken and make tackling difficult).

Two points Thry:

1.  Cripps was tagged and that's why he was particularly physical with Dom Sheed.

2.  No-one knows that Murphy has been an ordinary captain.  Some folk may think that, but others, including Juddy and Bolts, assert that he is a very good captain.

[LP]

Cripps was tagged and that's why he was particularly physical with Dom Sheed

Fans seem to think that under constant tagging Cripps will be able to play like that week in and week out, it's a pure fantasy!

When he's having a bad day, what does he bring as leader?

[PaulP]

Cripps will be able to do all he does now and be as inspirational as he is now, whether he's captain or not. I doubt his team mates will find him any less inspirational or accountable in the absence of a title.

[madbluboy]

2.  No-one knows that Murphy has been an ordinary captain.  Some folk may think that, but others, including Juddy and Bolts, assert that he is a very good captain.

If know one knows then how do Judd and Bolton?

[DJC]

If know one knows then how do Judd and Bolton?

Read what I wrote more carefully MBB    Assert is not the same as know! 

I assert that the views of Juddy, Bolts and the playing group about Murph's captaincy are more informed/accurate than the views/opinions of supporters generally and most of those folk paid to have opinions about football matters.

[LP]

If no one knows then how do Judd and Bolton?

They are not just anybody, in this matter they are not like another person on the street, they are both specialists and experts in privileged positions, with information that the rest of us are not party to, privileged information!

Media and forum members might question those assertions, but those questions are posed from very weak positions. Positions that are almost worthless in the debate, if not for the influence of marketing people and administrators.

The "no one knows" argument reminds me of the climate deniers who think their opinion is equal to that of thousands of climate experts!

[madbluboy]

Read what I wrote more carefully MBB    Assert is not the same as know! 

I assert that the views of Juddy, Bolts and the playing group about Murph's captaincy are more informed/accurate than the views/opinions of supporters generally and most of those folk paid to have opinions about football matters.

You keep writing that kind of thing that the staff, players and coach etc. knows best but you're happy to post your own opinions and in case you haven't noticed we're a crap club so maybe they don't have a clue what's best? ;D