Re: Next Captain
Reply #43 –
I understand you disagree, but I've seen Cripps give up on chasing men multiple times the last few weeks and this week vs West Coast, when they elected not to tag him, it didn't happen.
Collingwood did it.
North Melbourne did it.
he will learn from it, but the fact still remains that a quick opponent who could run off him could heavily expose him.
At AFL level if there is one thing I have learned from Murphy's captaincy is that teams look to exploit any weakness they have at any opportunity they can because beating the captain can be the key to winning a game and Cripps has weaknesses in his game that can be exploited. That's a con, and its one that Kruddler missed in his summation.
I also believe Cripps will make a fine captain, its just something for him and the club to think about and work on. I know a week is a long time in football, but the club, the MC and Cripps need to find a way to nullify that weakness irrespective of whether or not you believe it exists.
Finally on Murphy, we all know he has been an ordinary captain, but he works his dot off, and I can't knock him for that. Hes not hercules, he has smashed his body from pillar to post in the clinches for us, and hasnt been durable and strong enough to endure it, and deserves a little more respect than the average punter gives him because irrespective of how badly he gets smashed he still continues to put his body on the line week in and week out, and Ive noted his tackling has improved a bit this season (lets not forget hes wrecked his shoulder twice playing for our footy club, and once they break they stay broken and make tackling difficult).
Two points Thry:
1. Cripps was tagged and that's why he was particularly physical with Dom Sheed.
2. No-one knows that Murphy has been an ordinary captain. Some folk may think that, but others, including Juddy and Bolts, assert that he is a very good captain.