Kangaroos appoint Swallow as Bommers successor

Midfielder Andrew Swallow has been appointed North Melbourne’s captain for season 2012 on a busy day in the AFL where two other clubs also made changes in their leadership groups.

Melbourne and premiership favourites Collingwood also announced changes to their leadership group and in the Demons case announced a pair of co-captains but the day started with the Kangaroos appointment of Swallow.

The 24-year-old was named captain at a media conference at Aegis Park on Friday, with fellow midfielder Jack Ziebell, 21 as well as veteran Drew Petrie named as his deputies.

Swallow replaces veteran Brent Harvey, 33 who has spent the last three seasons as North captain but the man known as ‘Boomer’ will remain in the leadership group alongside another midfielder in Daniel Wells.

North Melbourne senior coach Brad Scott told Swallow of the decision in front of the playing group early on Friday before the club formally announced the decision in front of a media conference at the club’s training ground.

“I’ve had a few opportunities in my junior career but I think as I go along (my leadership) will evolve,” Swallow said. “I’m probably not someone who will be in people’s faces and yelling and screaming. I like to lead by the way I play, similar to the way that ‘Boomer’ (Harvey) prepares and the way he goes about his footy.”

“(I’ll also be) just getting alongside the guys and getting to know them really well and making sure that they’re travelling well.”

Added Scott: “Andrew has got the score on the board on-field – he has really elevated himself to the upper echelon of midfielders in the AFL now.”

“And he really just reflects the type of person we want here at North Melbourne.”

North Melbourne wasn’t the only club to look for youth to lead the way as only hours later Melbourne made the decision to appoint youngsters Jack Trengove and Jack Grimes as co-captains of the club.

Trengove, 20 will be the youngest AFL captain this year and in fact the youngest in VFL/AFL history when he takes the field when the Demons take on the Brisbane Lions in their season opener in late March.

As well as Trengove the Demons also appointed defender Grimes, 22 as his co-captain as Melbourne, under new senior coach Mark Neeld made several moves in their leadership group.

Most notably is the axing of veteran Brad Green who has not been stripped off the captaincy but along with club’s vice-captain last year in Brent Moloney has been left out of the leadership group.

Former long-time Collingwood assistant Mark Neeld said that both Trengove and Grimes earned their new positions following what he seen during his short time at the club.

“I acknowledge that the group is young,” Neeld told a media conference on Friday afternoon.

“It has the potential to lead the Melbourne Football Club for a long time.”

“[Trengove and Grimes] have become captains by leading by example.”

“I only have their actions and behaviours over the last four-and-a-half months to go by, and they’ve been terrific.”

“I expect them to continue to act in that manner, and to grow and develop their leadership skills over time.”

“I’ve got no doubt that they’ll do that really well.”

Neeld’s former club in Collingwood also announced some changes to their leadership group with the likes of star midfielder Dale Thomas, forward Travis Cloke and rebounding defender Heath Shaw included at the expense of reigning Brownlow Medallist Dane Swan and veteran ruckman Darren Jolly.

Shaw returns to the leadership group after being left out last year and eight months after being involved in a betting scandal which also included Nick Maxwell who remains the club’s captain with superstar midfielder Scott Pendlebury as his deputy.

Defender Harry O’Brien as well as former St Kilda captain Luke Ball retain their positions in the leadership group from last year as the Magpies look for youth to drive them to that elusive 16^th premiership.

Rookie Collingwood senior coach Nathan Buckley insisted that both Swan and Jolly would remain leaders at the club with the veteran ruckman set to benefit on focusing on his fitness after having an injury-hit 2011 season.

“Title is one thing but influence is probably the main thing that you measure leadership on,” Buckley told a media conference after a pre-season training session at Gosch’s Paddock.

“We’ve got a mix of very strong characters and different characters in our leadership group and throughout our team in general.”

“Swanny will do what he’s always done and he’ll lead by example primarily with what he does on the field, and his form has been of such a high standard and so consistent in recent years that we expect that to continue.”

“[Jolly] has been fantastic with the way he’s attacked this pre-season and he is dragging blokes with him from a leadership sense.”

“He’s got a chance to make sure he pays attention to what he needs to do from a body perspective and from a game style perspective, and he hasn’t put a foot wrong. He’s been fantastic.”