Collingwood should consider a captaincy change, and an early tip on Darcy Moore's replacement has been revealed.
Moore has battled with injury this year, only featured in four games, unable to stay fit and dealing with recurring soft-tissue problems.
While the captain has been out with an injury, Nick Daicos and Brayden Maynard have been sharing the responsibilities, speaking on the Six Points AFL podcast, Mark Stevens believes Maynard may be leading the race.
“Now my inside mail at Collingwood is the players, if there was a player vote they all had to tick a box and put it in an envelope that Brayden Maynard would be the man," Stevens said.
"But, you've then got Nick Daicos, super player, super character and they need to keep him, so it's a dilemma."
Stevens provided context on why Moore should relinquish the captaincy duties.
"Obviously, Darcy Moore, I think his time as captain, I'd think he'd even admit that he probably needs to move on from the captaincy, just get his body right," he added.
"You know he's done a great job as skipper, everything's transitional obviously, so you got Nick Daicos and Brayden Maynard, they're the two."
Six Points co-host Daniel Harford agrees with the players' sentiment towards Maynard.
“He's the ultimate competitor, Brayden Maynard. I get why that would be a thing within the playing group," Harford said.
"He's the one that sticks up for his teammates, he's out there working 110 percent every time, physical player, combative, ultra competitive, he's a great nomination.”
Harford and Stevens discussed the prospects of Daicos as captain, and whether the looming chase from Tasmania will play into the decision making at the Pies as well as his desire to lead the club.
“If (Daicos) gets overlooked as captain, it gives him an easier out clause, if Tassie is involved, and not many captains leave footy clubs," Stevens said.
"I'd still expect Daicos to get the captaincy, but certainly strong mail is that Brayden Maynard, they love him, there are two different types, aren't they, ones as hard as nails, one pure silk.”
Harford said: “But when you get one of the best players in the competition, being able to lead the club, maybe it is the way they go, but maybe he doesn't want to, maybe he doesn't need that pressure to be the leader of the footy club.
“Does it add more pressure if he is the captain? Does he need to be the leader of the group? Would they respond to him as they would to Maynard?”
