The obvious choices to replace Dangerfield if he does hand Cats captaincy over

Patrick Dangerfield cast some doubt over his Geelong captaincy on Monday.

The 34-year-old veteran has been skipper of the Cats for the past two seasons but is not yet locked away to lead the club in 2025.

Dangerfield indicated that he is no certainty to continue in the role for a third campaign having taken over from long-time captain Joel Selwood who retired after the 2022 premiership.

“It’s about the right person for the job for next year,” he told reporters.

“I don’t think it’s anyone’s to own for any long period of time, unless you’re Joel Selwood at 23.

“It’s what’s best for the footy club, that’s the most important thing to keep front of mind.

“For us it’s around what’s the best thing for next season. The coaches will get together and they’ll put forward their ideas on where that sits.”

SEN Breakfast’s Sam Edmund and Adam Cooney discussed who is next in line at Geelong if Dangerfield does opt to hand over the reins.

Edmund feels perhaps a handover is coming given Dangerfield was so non-committal.

“There was a question around putting your hand up for the captaincy again and his first response was, ‘I’m not sure’,” Edmund said.

“So I think if he’s saying that… am I reading it wrong? I think there’s about to be a changeover or handover.”

Cooney concurs: “I think it’s a good pickup from you.

“I think if it was a 90 per cent chance he’d do it, he would just say, ‘Yeah, I’m keen for the job next year’. He’s obviously thought about it and they’ve probably had discussions as to who could possibly take over.

“Don’t be surprised if they make an announcement in the new year.”

Cooney believes current vice-captain Tom Stewart at 31 is the obvious replacement but can also see 22-year-old Max Holmes being thrown into the captaincy fire.

“It’s an easy transition to Tom Stewart. Or maybe they go with co-captains with a young player, the next generation that’s going to take over,” the former Western Bulldogs and Essendon midfielder continued.

“They could look to a Max Holmes, or someone like that, to share the duties or put him as vice-captain so he’s in the leadership group and he knows how it all works.”

Edmund asked: “Could Max Holmes be a captain in time?”

Cooney replied: “I think so. Was it Chris Scott who said he’ll be the best player in the competition at some stage?

“He seems like a pretty level-headed guy.”

Edmund added: “Tom Stewart at 31 looks like the logical one.

“And then maybe go to a Max Holmes after a couple more seasons under the belt, who knows?”

There have been some recent examples of aging captains stepping out of the role only to flourish thereafter.

Scott Pendlebury handed over to Darcy Moore ahead of the 2023 season with the long-serving Collingwood captain playing a pivotal part in the premiership that year.

Brisbane’s Dayne Zorko has found career-best form since giving over to Lachie Neale and Harris Andrews and the likes of Travis Boak, Rory Sloane, Dyson Heppell and Trent Cotchin also handed over the captain before playing on.

“I think it’s an absolute no-brainer for Paddy and the club,” Edmund said further.

“Scott Pendlebury has done it with unbelievable success, that was the right decision for him.

“Dayne Zorko was All-Australian this year after relinquishing the captaincy (after the 2022 season).

“Travis Boak did it a while back, Rory Sloane to Jordan Dawson, there’s many others.

“Paddy will be 35 next April. He’s done everything, 337 games, a premiership, a Brownlow, a stack of All-Australians. Just usher the next guy in, free yourself up and help him come through.”