Josh Jenkins believes Essendon and Adelaide are in similar positions as the clubs work out who their next captain will be.
The 32-year-old Rory Sloane remains captain of the Crows and wishes to continue in the role, but coming off a torn ACL is he the right man for the job?
Similarly, the Bombers are yet to confirm whether 30-year-old Dyson Heppell will remain captain in 2023.
Both Sloane and Heppell will need to prove they still belong in their respective clubs’ best 22s as both young teams hope to climb the ladder this year.
Jenkins says the indecision regarding who will lead Essendon and Adelaide comes down to a lack of clear candidates to replace them.
“Essendon and Adelaide in particular … I don’t think they have standout candidates who are saying ‘nup, my hand is up, I’m better than the person who previously had the role and I should be the captain’,” Jenkins told SEN’s Sportsday.
“I think both clubs are thinking ‘well, is it best for Rory Sloane and Dyson Heppell?’. There’s questions on Heppell’s place in the 22, Sloane is coming off an ACL, would it be best for them not to have it, probably, but who is going to take it?
“So I think both of those clubs are in similar positions. Brad Scott will be trying to work his way through things.
“It is interesting, but I can understand why it has taken so long. These clubs don’t have the obvious and optimum outcome.”
The likes of Tom Doedee, Jordan Dawson and Rory Laird will be in the mix at the Crows should the club move on from Sloane, while at the Bombers Zach Merrett, Andrew McGrath and Jordan Ridley are seen as the lead contenders.
