Re: New Skipper?
Reply #196 –
Someone has picked up on it...
Basically, a captain is the figurehead who plays nice for the camera. Role model for the kids. Usually someone marketable.
A general, is someone on game day who gets stuff done. Not always is a role model kind of way.
Hodge was always the general at Hawthorn. Even when Mitchell was captain, Hodge was the one that got things done, changed the game. Sometimes it was a big hit, sometimes it was a kiss. Could also be called an enforcer, but isn't limited to just the physical side of the game, but definitely has that 'aura' about them.
So Hodge, Jono Brown, Greg Williams, Peter Dean, Dermott Brereton, Gary Ablett Snr, Barry Hall are good examples, even someone like Adrian Hickmott and Aaron Hamill qualify.
Every club has a captain, not every club has a general. Sometimes they can be the same thing, but Murphy is no general.
Interestingly, there was a retired Hawthorn player on SEN today (I didn't catch his name) who said that while Tuck was the very quietly spoken captain, it was obvious that Brereton "owned" the club. However, he described Brereton as more of a troubleshooter or problem solver than a general. He also said that Mitchell and Hodge are incredibly similar in the way they captained the side.
I would say that Hawthorn has several players who carry out your "general" role; Roughead, Mitchell, Lewis, Rioli, Hodge and possibly Gunston. They are the blokes who have the ability to take the game by the scruff of the neck and really influence the result.
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