With Goodwin set to retire at the end of the season, a new captain will obviously be chosen. Who d'ya reckon will get the nod?

I think it'll be Van Berlo. He's been groomed for the role for a while now and it's pretty obvious he's highly rated at the club. He joined our leadership group when he was only 21, which I think is the youngest age to do so for our club. Danger's not ready yet, I'd be very surprised though if he didn't become our captain in the future.

Petrenko

I don't think VB will become captain of the Crows, to be perfectly honest. He goes missing when the Crows are in trouble, and we can't have that in a skipper, IMO.

Plus, as you said, Dangerfield is perfect captaincy material for the future, and placing VB in the captaincy role as much as rules out Danger's chances of captaining the club.

My vote for the captaincy in 2011 goes to Truck Rutten.

Ben Rutten

I reckon it should also be Rutten.

Out of those listed I could only see Rutten as captain.

Originally I would have said Scott Thompson but I think he'll leave at seasons end to either a Victorian club or Gold Coast. Of the names mentioned, like most, I'd go with Ben Rutten.

nvb and porps dont shout captain to me. bock has been involved in some suspect things which is a cross against him. with reports about thompson, dont think hes the most loyal bloke around, another cross. leaves ben rutten as the most obvious choice to me.

just checked their leadership group for this year
is
Brad Symes, Scott Stevens, Nathan van Berlo, Ben Rutten, Michael Doughty, Brett Burton and Tyson Edwards

I guess looking at that list, Rutten's the logical choice. I just think though, VB's ready for it and like I said, he's been groomed for it for a while now. Would certaintly be happy if Rutten was named skipper though.

Sparky_Hughes wrote:

Originally I would have said Scott Thompson but I think he'll leave at seasons end to either a Victorian club or Gold Coast. Of the names mentioned, like most, I'd go with Ben Rutten.

I sure as hell hope Thompson doesn't leave. I'd be shattered if we lost him.

Bernie Vince???

Ivan maric

The game Petrenko captains you win, surely he is a certainty.

Dangerfield! or Walker!

http://www.foxsports.com.au/story/0,8659,27176115-5018851,00.html

Simon Goodwin's retirement could force Neil Craig to clean out Crows

By John Clark
foxsports.com.au
May 25, 2010

Skipper Simon Goodwin is the first domino down in what should and likely will be a massive overhaul of a tired Adelaide Crows list by stubborn coach Neil Craig.

Goodwin, 33, could be joined in retirement by as many as five teammates when the horror that has been the Crows' 2010 season comes to an end.

Age appears to have caught up very quickly with Tyson Edwards and the injury-plagued Brett Burton while Michael Doughty is also the wrong side of 30.

Andrew McLeod, the spark in their win over Brisbane Lions on Sunday, has been more than serviceable this year but what role can he play in a rebuild?

He'll play at 34 years of age if he opts to drag his body through another arduous campaign and it would be sad to see him forced out midway through 2011 rather than on his own terms.

Trent Hentschel is another who could call time; his body is battered and there is life after football to consider.

There will be Crows fans in a panic at the prospect of losing more than 1200 games experience.

At least it should force Craig to tip the joint on its head and put the acid on this year's second-tier strugglers that were the key to their push into the AFL elite in 2010.

Craig can either add kids at a compromised draft or try his luck in trade week. Last season, after a semi-final exit, he sat on his hands at the annual AFL meat market.

He has been criticised for that but all will be forgiven if No.13 pick Daniel Talia can form a 10-year partnership with Kurt Tippett in attack and Jack Gunston settles in a forward line with them.
No longer will the likes of Brent Reilly, Scott Thompson, David Mackay, Nathan Van Berlo, Chris Knights, Patrick Dangerfield and Richard Douglas have the old blokes to turn to in times of need. It will be their team in 2011.

The longer you look at the Adelaide list, the more expectant you became of an instant rebound next year. They have been smashed by injury this season.

As we have seen in the recent slides of Sydney Swans and Brisbane Lions - and to a lesser extent St Kilda without their skipper - not having your best players on the park will kill a side.

Nathan Bock and Ben Rutten are in the prime of their career and form a solid base to build on down back. Phil Davis looks to be capable, Andy Otten will be back, Graham Johncock is quality.

The midfield will cope, especially if one of their many ruck projects takes off and Dangerfield can spend more time on the ball. Knights is another one too who could use summer to transform himself into a dangerous attacking midfielder, rather than a half-forward.

The Crows clearly think Tippett is the man to carry their forward line, hence the big payday to ward off Gold Coast. This year looks a write-off but he owes them next season.

Taylor Walker shows plenty and has the rest of 2010 to prove he's learnt his lessons. That may be a dangerous double act.

Thanks for the memories, Goody, but we're going to be all right without you.

___________________________________________________________________________

I thought this was appropriate for this thread as it doesn't really deserve it's own. In my honest opinion, i think Burton should also retire this year. I'm thinking Edwards should too. McLeod and Doughty should go onto next year.

I disagree on McLeod. He's my favourite current player and second favourite all-time favourite, but I don't want to see him forcing himself through that "one more season" that so many players put themselves through. I'd like to see him go while he's still got something in him, to preserve the legend, personally.

Edwards and Burton are definites to go, too.

We have seen this year that he is capable of going around again, but all signs point to him retiring. I'd love to see him go on next year though.