Port Adelaides great Kane Cornes says three club captains need to improve and do it quickly.
Cornes has said targeted GWS' Stephen Coniglio, Adelaide's Rory Sloane and Hawthorn's Ben Stratton.
โCaptains are on the agenda today. Iโve got three of them in my sights for differing reasons and two of them are new captains so weโll give them a bit of grace that theyโre adjusting under tough circumstances,โ he toldย SENโs Whateley.
Coniglio was given the role at the end of last season after signing on to stay at the Giants and has had a more subtle output compared to his usual lofty standards.
โIโm watching Stephen Coniglio play and heโs not the player weโve seen over the last three or four years,โ he said.
โNow, pressure of a big contract, new captaincy โฆ as simple as this sounds, he doesnโt want to kick a drop punt.
โI was watching him play against Port Adelaide and he was picking the ball up and heโs in field positions kicking check-sides and snaps around the body instead of kicking drop punts so 46 per cent kicking efficiency.
โTheyโve thrown him around the place to try and get him involved, but heโs not having the influence that he should for a player thatโs paid as well as he is and for his standing in the game so thereโs some pressure on him to respond.โ
Cornes believes Sloane is also having a down year, but it comes in a year his club can ill-afford it. The Crows are winless and occupy the bottom of the ladder and haven't looked like winning a game so far.
โRory Sloane has been all at sea. Now, heโs banged up," he said.
โIโm not sure heโs come into a game with a full bill of health, but Iโm yet to see him really have any moment where he can drag his team along and make a statement for a team thatโs under fire.
โYear on year his form is really down.โ
Lastly, Cornes turned his attention to Hawks skipper Stratton. Hawthorn have been up and down this year and Stratton is leading out the AFL's oldest list.
โIt was a questionable choice as captain at the time and I think that remains to be seen.โ
โIโd just love to see them turn over a new leaf. James Sicily is the man for me. Make the call for him to lead them for the next five to six years.
โHeโs not perfect, but Iโve loved his development. I see him with a similar temperament to a Jack Riewoldt who had some moments in his career when he was younger โฆ Sicily, his development is what Iโve loved.
โHeโs improved a lot and I think he has the fire in the belly, the leadership and the brilliance to be the captain of that footy club.
โItโs a risk, but heโd be the one that Iโd go to.โ
