Being an AFL captain is about far more than winning the toss or giving a speech after a victory. The modern captain is expected to be a leader on the field and a spokesperson for their club.
The role of an AFL captain has changed dramatically over the decades. In the intercolonial era (1877-1896), captains and vice-captains were decided by a vote of the players on the day of a match, meaning each week it could change. VFL captaincy was about being tough, courageous and strong. The role commonly went to the club's best player.
Take Leigh Matthews at Hawthorn who is regarded as one of the greatest footballers of all time. Matthews won the Peter Crimmins medal eight times in his career, captaining the club from 1981-1985, leading the team to a premiership in 1983. His football ability alone made him the evident leader of the club.
VFL captains also commonly took on the role of a playing-coach, they did not have a big coaching box to make big changes during a game, or analyse how the team was playing. The captain decided where players would start and rotated them on and off the ground.
Today the selection process is far more structured, senior players vote for their most respected players. The top 5-8 players names are then presented to senior coaching staff, who then select the leadership team. However, being the best player is somewhat a requirement but isn't the defining quality of a modern-day captain. While elite football ability remains important, leadership, communication and professionalism often outweigh individual accolades.
Richmond's Toby Nankervis has never won a Jack Dyer Medal, despite captaining the club since 2022. Similarly, Fremantle's captain Alex Pearce has not won the club's best and fairest Doig Medal, captaining the club from 2023. Their appointments indicate how clubs value leadership qualities over individual accolades when selecting a skipper.
The rise of social media has added another layer to the role. Captains are now considered public figures whose words and actions can quickly end up on the front page of the news. Captains are now considered the face of their club. Their role is heavily focused on club culture, player welfare, working closely with sponsors and helping to attract members. Today's AFL captain is judged not only by their football ability but also by their capability to lead beyond the boundary line.
The defining quality of a modern captain is adaptability. AFL clubs are constantly changing day to day. Coaches can be replaced, media scrutiny can intensify, injuries can disrupt a season and off field issues can quickly become public. The best captains are those who adapt to these challenges while continuing to uphold standards of their football club.
One thing remains certain, the best AFL captains are no longer simply the best players. They are the individuals who lead with integrity, emotional intelligence and resilience, inspiring their teammates both on and off the field. In today's game, leadership qualities matter more than individual accolades.
