Jarryn Geary to captain St Kilda

[Playon]

Jarryn Geary to captain St Kilda Saints in 2017
Caroline Wilson
http://www.theage.com.au/afl/afl-news/j ... u1jfl.html

St Kilda will unveil Jarryn Geary as its new captain in the coming days putting an official end to the Nick Riewoldt leadership era.

The 28-year-old former rookie has won the support of his teammates and coaches as the club prepares to ratify a transformed and relatively youthful leadership group which will not include Riewoldt.

Fairfax Media understands Riewoldt, 34, Leigh Montagna and Sean Dempster (both 33) all withdrew from contention when the players voted for this season's new-look leaders effectively removing 43 years of playing experience from the leadership group.

While Geary's promotion has yet to be ratified by the Saints' board, that appears a formality. He has been seen by Riewoldt for several seasons as his heir apparent and was endorsed earlier this month by Montagna.

The other captaincy contenders included David Armitage, Maverick Weller and reigning club champion Jack Steven with Montagna also seen by coaches late last season as a potential outside chance to step up in the twilight of his career.

Riewoldt announced he was stepping down as captain at the club's best and fairest count last year after 10 successive seasons. He also captained the Saints in 2005 as part of former coach Grant Thomas's leadership rotation policy. A six-time Trevor Barker winner and five-time All-Australian, he captained the club for the 200th time at the start of last season.

Geary, while not boasting Riewoldt's profile or playing reputation, has cemented himself in Alan Richardson's best midfield line-up, finishing fifth and runner-up respectively in the 2015 and 2016 club championships. He stepped in for the injured Riewoldt last season.

An emergency in the Saints' grand final teams of 2009 and 2010, Geary has signed on with the Saints until the end of 2018. Club chief Matt Finnis and his board are expected to sign off on his captaincy over the next week

[Devilhead]

Bring on Season 2017

[ctqs]

Why would she write this? Didn't we already know this?

[saintsRrising]

Jarryn Geary to captain St Kilda Saints in 2017
Caroline Wilson
http://www.theage.com.au/afl/afl-news/j ... u1jfl.html

Geary, while not boasting Riewoldt's profile or playing reputation, has cemented himself in Alan Richardson's best midfield line-up, finishing fifth and runner-up respectively in the 2015 and 2016 club championships. He stepped in for the injured Riewoldt last season.

Well this must be her scoop, as I was expecting him to play in the back half. In fact I still expect him to play in the back half.

[BigMart]

As soon as Nick stepped down it was a fait accompli

He was the obvious and natural successor

As a leader
Only Nick, Joey and Sean are held in as high regard

Congrats Jarryn

Tough as teak

[citywest]

I do not agree with this decision at all. I admit he has improved a great deal in the last couple of seasons but he is not good enough to be captain. I hope he proves me wrong.

[loris]

I hope he proves me wrong

.

And I have every confidence he will do just that citywest, every confidence.

Well done Jarryn

[saintbrat]

Dal on Jarryn

[Trev from the Bush]

I hope he proves me wrong

.

And I have every confidence he will do just that citywest, every confidence.

Well done Jarryn

+1

If citywest disagrees then Jarryn will prove an outstanding leader. The form never lies.

[saintsRrising]

I do not agree with this decision at all. I admit he has improved a great deal in the last couple of seasons but he is not good enough to be captain. I hope he proves me wrong.

His leadership has not been in doubt for a long time.

It was his on-field glitches, that he removed from his game last season to a more than acceptable level, that was the question mark. That question mark is now not there.

Think of Geary as the new improved Spud.

[BigMart]

I honestly don't think he is any better or worse with regard to skill level, this year, compared to any season since 09 (where he held his spot in 16 straight wins) he was a RS nominated player who looked comfortable at the level for a young player and looked above VFL comfortably.

He is probably got better as a player with experience, but he was bloody good from about 2012 in any case!

Always rated his ability to shut down small forwards and cover for other defenders when required

He can also push forward

Yes, he is average by foot
As was Mark Bickley

[Sanctorum]

Quite obviously Geary was the players choice, even if he was not mine, as I'm not sure he will necessarily feature in the best 22 by season's end and it will be difficult for the selectors to drop him if he is the captain.

Also a little surprised as Jamie Cox had indicated in a media interview recently that he thought it would be one of the younger players.

I don't doubt that Geary will do a good job and wish him well, but given his age (28) he is likely to be only an interim captain for a couple of seasons pending the emergence of one of the younger guns: Billings, Weller, Ross, Dunstan, Newnes.

[dragit]

Marto, you and I are like twins these days… was going to say the exact same thing.

He's been in the top 6 of our B&F for 5 years, apart from the one lost to injury…

2012 - 6th

2013 - 4th

2014 - 7 games - elbow

2015 - 5th

2016 - 2nd

[Con Gorozidis]

Was always a shoe-in.
Good transition option until Ross, Newnes and/or Weller take over.

[BigMart]

Dragit

You must be the only one seeing what I (and the coaches it seems) have been seeing for ages?!

Yes, an average kick... FFS if he was a good kick, he be winning B&Fs like Corey Enright. He isn't great by foot, so therefore only finishes between 6th and 2nd.... So he does somethings well?!

I can think of one better lock down defender in the afl

So he goes alright and should possibly hold his spot in the best 22 for a bit yet

[Jacks Back]

On SEN they were getting people to ring up for their nominations for worst kicking captain in the league (after the rumours were all but confirmed that Geary would be captain) but I didn't hear the rest.

[Enrico_Misso]

He is heart and soul.
Will lead by inspiration.
- never gives in
- courageous
- desperate

Who could forget his diving spoil against The Druggies to prevent a certain goal and allow us to go forward and kick the winner.
That sort of thing inspires the team.
That is what a leader does.

Well done Gears!

[To the top]

And in those seasons mentioned where did St Kilda finish - and why?

No doubt gives everything and has achieved to the maximum of his ability - but (was it?) Monteath at Richmond comes to mind.

[Con Gorozidis]

And in those seasons mentioned where did St Kilda finish - and why?

No doubt gives everything and has achieved to the maximum of his ability - but (was it?) Monteath at Richmond comes to mind.

Richie Vandenberg?
Chris Newman?

But...

Then there was Nick Maxwell....

[WellardSaint]

He is heart and soul.
Will lead by inspiration.
- never gives in
- courageous
- desperate

Who could forget his diving spoil against The Druggies to prevent a certain goal and allow us to go forward and kick the winner.
That sort of thing inspires the team.
That is what a leader does.

Well done Gears!

which game was that?

[magnifisaint]

Wow!

A bolt out of the blue.

Next he'll be holding up the premiership cup.

Wouldn't Nick be pissed off.

[kosifantutti]

Wow!

A bolt out of the blue.

Next he'll be holding up the premiership cup.

Wouldn't Nick be pissed off.

No he wouldn't.

[The Fireman]

congratulations to the bloke. Just shows what one can do if he strives hard enough , incredible turnaround and deserves everything he gets out of football.

Well done Gears.

[saynta]

I hope he proves me wrong

.

And I have every confidence he will do just that citywest, every confidence.

Well done Jarryn

Have to agree with you there loris. 100%.

[saintsRrising]

I honestly don't think he is any better or worse with regard to skill level, this year, compared to any season since 09

His skill level may not be any different but his decision making and judgement on how he disposes of the ball certainly improved. This distinction is a concept that you do not seem able to grasp.

For example gone are the ""Hail Mary"" kicks that Geary used to do running out of the backline, including at times when he was in the clear under little pressure, when he he just used to roost it apparently to no one or at least not to the advantage of a team mate.

Geary today uses the ball better by both hand and foot. His skills have not improved but his ability to get the ball to a teammate has.