'Definite' contenders line up after star's shock exit

1 year ago 107

Veteran Collingwood midfielder Steele Sidebottom has taken himself retired of the moving to beryllium the Pies' adjacent skipper aft Scott Pendlebury stepped down arsenic captain earlier this the month.

Sidebottom served arsenic vice-captain for 7 of Pendlebury's 9 seasons successful the role, but was not named successful the Pies' four-man enactment radical for 2022.

Turning 32 adjacent month, Sidebottom believes it is excessively precocious for him to measurement into the apical occupation now.

"I deliberation the vessel has sailed for me, to beryllium honest," helium said astatine a nine property league connected Wednesday.

Asked which absorption the nine would spell successful to name its 48th captain, Sidebottom was unsure whether the Collingwood committee would opt for a elder person oregon experimentation with a promising youngster.

Selection of the club's skipper is simply a player-led process. Firstly, the playing radical and cardinal elder unit nominate and ballot connected candidates earlier a last prime is presented to the committee for approval.

One imaginable contender is prima defender Jeremy Howe.

Named successful the Pies' enactment radical for the 5th clip this season, Sidebottom said Howe could undoubtedly fulfil the role, but suspected Pendlebury's successor would inject caller blood.

"I conjecture Pendles is 34 and Howie is 33, could Howie beryllium captain? Howie could decidedly skipper the footy club," helium said.

"But I deliberation it'll beryllium idiosyncratic who is astir apt a small spot younger.

"There's a process successful place, whoever gets the votes, there'll beryllium discussions each astir it.

"Whether he's 32 oregon 28, the close idiosyncratic volition beryllium enactment successful that position.

"There are guys determination that are acceptable to bash the job, but I conjecture it is large Pendles is inactive present due to the fact that helium tin assistance usher those guys done it and it'll assistance them going forward.

"Time volition tell, we'll tally each of the votes and spot what happens."

Upon announcing his retirement, Pendlebury said his caller relation would beryllium to "support the adjacent skipper of our club".

Also named arsenic a vice-captain successful 2022, Darcy Moore volition beryllium successful the mix, according to Sidebottom.

"Yeah, I would person thought," helium said regarding whether 26-year-old Moore would beryllium enactment forward.

"There's going to beryllium a fewer guys determination that'll decidedly beryllium candidates and Darcy volition decidedly beryllium 1 of those.

"He's a large subordinate for one, he's a large person and idiosyncratic that radical emotion to beryllium astir astatine the footy club."

Other contenders for the captaincy see Taylor Adams, dual champion and fairest victor Jack Crisp, and All-Australian defender Brayden Maynard.

Collingwood is expected to marque its announcement successful the caller year.

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