Next Captain

[DJC]

....and Docherty can be exposed in the air by a resting ruckman. Nobody is perfect.

As for not being accountable, he had 11 tackles last week. When was the last time Doc or Murph had that many? FYI, never and 2014. Cripps has still had more tackles in a game than the other 2.

Murphy had eight tackles in his last game, Cripps had one in that game.  It's swings and roundabouts.

[kruddler]

Murphy had eight tackles in his last game, Cripps had one in that game.  It's swings and roundabouts.

Cripps averages 2 more tackles a game than Murphy does over their career.

.....and 3 more than docherty.

[Thryleon]

The more you play at the coalface the more tackles you will gather.

Let's not use tackling as a measure of accountability because some of the best defenders in the game never tackle.  For Docherty to be close says a lot.

[kruddler]

The more you play at the coalface the more tackles you will gather.

Let's not use tackling as a measure of accountability because some of the best defenders in the game never tackle.  For Docherty to be close says a lot.

Doc has less than half as much...so not exactly close...but i agree its unfair to use him as its apples with oranges.

It was more about Cripps being a 'step up' from Murphy playing a similar role.

Sure, its not about accountability exactly, but it can highlight accountability.

[DJC]

Doc has less than half as much...so not exactly close...but i agree its unfair to use him as its apples with oranges.

It was more about Cripps being a 'step up' from Murphy playing a similar role.

Sure, its not about accountability exactly, but it can highlight accountability.

The only similarity in their role is that they are usually in the same part of the ground. 

It's probably also worth considering that Murphy is 180cm and 80kg and Cripps is 195cm and 93kg.  A midfielder of Cripps' size needs to be able to use his strength and size to hurt the opposition both physically and metaphorically.  Murphy, on the other hand, has to rely on his speed and footy smarts to hurt the opposition - and that's not implying that Cripps lacks footy smarts.

[kruddler]

The only similarity in their role is that they are usually in the same part of the ground. 

It's probably also worth considering that Murphy is 180cm and 80kg and Cripps is 195cm and 93kg.  A midfielder of Cripps' size needs to be able to use his strength and size to hurt the opposition both physically and metaphorically.  Murphy, on the other hand, has to rely on his speed and footy smarts to hurt the opposition - and that's not implying that Cripps lacks footy smarts.

Another reason he'd be a step up on Murphy as captain.

Its a psychological advantage as much as a physical one.

Nobody looks across (and down) at Murphy and starts pooing their dacks. However, someone looking across (and up) at Cripps would be second guessing their life choices, even if for a fleeting moment.

The captain is a symbol. It is a window into the club, and team. It should be a representative of the team and how they play.

Selwood @ Geelong. Tough, uncompromising.
Ablett @ Gold Coast. Classy, but bruise free.
Kelly @ Swans. Honest battler, never say die attitude.
Voss @ Brisbane. Arrogant, classy, tough as nails.
Trengove/Grimes @ Melbourne. Young, inexperienced, pushover.
Jones/Viney @ Melbourne. Workmanlike, hardened, blue collar.
Maxwell @ Collingwood. Uncompromising, does their role.
Carey @ North. Consistent performer, loose off-field.
Murphy @ Carlton. Bruise free, needs ideal conditions to flourish.
Cripps @ Carlton? You've got a fight on your hands.

[DJC]

Another reason he'd be a step up on Murphy as captain.

Its a psychological advantage as much as a physical one.

Nobody looks across (and down) at Murphy and starts pooing their dacks. However, someone looking across (and up) at Cripps would be second guessing their life choices, even if for a fleeting moment.

The captain is a symbol. It is a window into the club, and team. It should be a representative of the team and how they play.

Selwood @ Geelong. Tough, uncompromising.
Ablett @ Gold Coast. Classy, but bruise free.
Kelly @ Swans. Honest battler, never say die attitude.
Voss @ Brisbane. Arrogant, classy, tough as nails.
Trengove/Grimes @ Melbourne. Young, inexperienced, pushover.
Jones/Viney @ Melbourne. Workmanlike, hardened, blue collar.
Maxwell @ Collingwood. Uncompromising, does their role.
Carey @ North. Consistent performer, loose off-field.
Murphy @ Carlton. Bruise free, needs ideal conditions to flourish.
Cripps @ Carlton? You've got a fight on your hands.

And that's where your analysis falls down.  Captaining a football club is a lot more complex than what supporters see from the stands.

The other Murphy is a prime example.  Even though he missed the season through injury, Bob Murphy was a huge factor in the Doggies' premiership.  To me, Bob Murphy is closer to Glenn Manton, or perhaps Tommy Alvin, than any other players we've had in the recent past.

What makes me think that Cripps will be our captain, in due course, is the role he has played in helping Zac Fisher to develop his ability to play in the midfield.  That to me is far more important than the physicality that Cripps is able to bring to bear on match day.

[PaulP]

Another reason he'd be a step up on Murphy as captain.

Its a psychological advantage as much as a physical one.

Nobody looks across (and down) at Murphy and starts pooing their dacks. However, someone looking across (and up) at Cripps would be second guessing their life choices, even if for a fleeting moment.

The captain is a symbol. It is a window into the club, and team. It should be a representative of the team and how they play.

Selwood @ Geelong. Tough, uncompromising.
Ablett @ Gold Coast. Classy, but bruise free.
Kelly @ Swans. Honest battler, never say die attitude.
Voss @ Brisbane. Arrogant, classy, tough as nails.
Trengove/Grimes @ Melbourne. Young, inexperienced, pushover.
Jones/Viney @ Melbourne. Workmanlike, hardened, blue collar.
Maxwell @ Collingwood. Uncompromising, does their role.
Carey @ North. Consistent performer, loose off-field.
Murphy @ Carlton. Bruise free, needs ideal conditions to flourish.
Cripps @ Carlton? You've got a fight on your hands.

I generally agree that a bigger and more imposing captain is better, but the rest of the post is very dubious IMO.

[PaulP]

And that's where your analysis falls down.  Captaining a football club is a lot more complex than what supporters see from the stands.
.............................................

Generally agree. I suspect almost all of a captain's best work is unheard by the public at large, and a lesser but still significant amount of their best work is also unseen.

[BlueAvenger]

I know it's not traditional but I would love our young group to have both Doc and Cripps as joint Captains next year. The Curnows as VC's. I don't have any reasons behind the thinking, that's just what I think might work