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I was appalled to see the physical condition of Lance Whitnal and Nick Stevens today. There are 6 players in the AFL who aren't professional enough to keep themselves in a shape that befits their title as paid athletes, they are: Dean Rioli, Lance Whitnal, Jonathon Hay, Richard Cole, Stewart Dew and Nick Stevens. It is terrible that a third of those players are on our list; it is beyond reprehenisble that those two players are the front runners to take the group forward next year.
It should be no suprise that young players like Luke Blackwell and Eddie Betts return from Christmas break with unacceptable skin-folds when the those two leaders constantly present in sub-standard condition. I don't wanna hear about injuries or reduced programs, I've played with guys in suburban football who take care of themselves and present better than those two, and they pay to play.
I've cut Nick Stevens slack all year because I expected him to suffer in the absence of Camporeale, but his poor form on the field is now being suplemented by a lack of work off the field - which is completely unacceptable. In fact the only thing Steven's has offered this year has been a guided tour of his new mansion in 'Beyond the Boundary'. I never expect Stevens to be toned and chiselled in appearence - that's not his body type, he is a carbon copy of Michael Braun, but Braun, although having more injuries is fit and looks it.
I don't care whether these two players are put up for trade, I'm fairly certain they wont, but to reward either of them with the captaincy would be tantamount to negligence given the number of young men who will be looking for guidance as they are starting their careers with us over the next few years.
I'm glad that Fevola has turned around his life and his form, and I'm very appreciative of the exposure and young supporters he brings to the club, he truley is a franchise player. But he isn't captaincy material; anyone can see Brendon's thoughts run 2 seconds behind his mouth and that's not an attribute that befits a captain. He continuely claims he has the respect of the players but anyone who saw the ch nine coverage of today's game will have heard the serve Walker dished out to him, captains don't get torn to pieces by junior players for lack of effort.
The club has re-signed Kouta, not something that I would have done, but having seen the shape of the two that are exepected to step into the breach once Kouta does retire, I can understand the mentallity of the club in wanting him to stay. I would strongly urge the club to retain Kouta as captain for next year. Clubs such as Essendon* have had their captains relinquish their posts and we seem to be hell bent on doing the same, but these moves are done to give a chance to the captain in waiting, it makes perfect sense for Hird to pass it on to LLoyd, but we don't have a LLoyd.
I hope Kouta is allowed to lead the next generation of players through until his retirement and I believe by then their will be a new and viable candidate to take over. He's too young now but he bleeds navy blue and busts his arse week in week out to improve his own game, and he works tirelessly off the field setting a standard for young blokes to emulate. Andrew Walker may seem like a premature choice for captaincy in 2008, but the club should ask itself who it wants guys like Marc Murphy aspiring to become.
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