New Skipper?

[madbluboy]

Whilst there seems to be a certain amount of poo-pooing Murph because (among other things) he doesn't measure up to Hodge, if you have a few minutes, have a look at the 2015-2016 Captains of the other 16 teams. How many of those guys measure up to Hodge ? Not one that i could see. The King Sniper is a highly desirable, but possibly unfair standard.

Only two comparable to Murphy is the other Murphy (Bob) who is an inspirational speaker and Swallow who gets the same criticism from North fans as Murphy does.

The rest of the captains are as tough as nails.

[PassIt2Carrots]

Spoke to the relative of a powerbroker today. Murphy will stay captain for the next two years and Cripps will then take over. According to him anyway.

[Gointocarlton]

X2.  and he's a lot tougher than given credit for.

X2

[PaulP]

Only two comparable to Murphy is the other Murphy (Bob) who is an inspirational speaker and Swallow who gets the same criticism from North fans as Murphy does.

The rest of the captains are as tough as nails.

IMHO, tough as nails and an ability to lead / inspire / get the best out of your teammates are different things, and it is the latter that is far more important in leading a team.

And I wouldn't call Cotchin, Goddard or Pendles hard as nails. The first is rapidly becoming a dirty sniper, the second is a catastrophe in waiting,  and the third (whom I love as a player) has the protection of half his teammates, the umpires, and Eddie (which by implication includes the AFL.) Opposition players stay off him like he has a textbook case of leprosy. Must be the least tackled player in the AFL.

[PassIt2Carrots]

I think it's more that you can't tackle him re Pendlebury. Has a lot of the Rhys-Jones' about him.

[cookie2]

Rhys was no respecter of big names or occasions- I remember him knocking out Robbie Flower at the MCG right in front of the MCC members!  ;D

We should bring him back as specialist mongrel coach.

[DJC]

Spoke to the relative of a powerbroker today. Murphy will stay captain for the next two years and Cripps will then take over. According to him anyway.

The first part is highly likely but I'm not sure about the second part.  No-one can predict how Cripps will develop as a player or as a leader or how any of his teammates may develop as leaders and players for that matter.

I think that we have been so starved of emerging talent that Cripps has taken on an aura that may not be entirely justified.

If he does turn out to be the leader many folk think he will be (or is now according to some), that will be great and becoming skipper may help to tie him to us for his entire career.  I just don't want to count chickens before they hatch.

[PaulP]

You're right Chris- Pendles is pretty slippery and skillful. Love the guy - but I don't see much tough stuff from him.

[PaulP]

Rhys was no respecter of big names or occasions- I remember him knocking out Robbie Flower at the MCG right in front of the MCC members!  ;D

We should bring him back as specialist mongrel coach.

All AFL teams should adopt this as a new position - "specialist Mongrel coach"

[LP]

I think that we have been so starved of emerging talent that Cripps has taken on an aura that may not be entirely justified.

Not according to rumors coming from players at opposition clubs, they are as stunned as us that he didn't get the Rising Star and they assess him as being the real deal!