While we’re just five rounds into the season, Brownlow Medallist Gerard Healy believes there’s an early frontrunner to claim the All-Australian captaincy in 2023.
In recent years, All-Australian selectors have named players that aren’t captains of their side as skipper of the presented team, with the likes of Tom Hawkins, Patrick Dangerfield, Lance Franklin and Alex Rance receiving the title without leading their side during the season.
While several skippers of their team have started the season well, Healy isn’t sure they’ll claim the gong come selection time.
“Last Thursday, Gather Round started with a bang,” Healy told SEN Sportsday.
“The Crows franked their form in Rounds 3 and 4 with a more than convincing win against the Blues.
“Leading the way was their new skipper Jordan Dawson who was best on the ground by a mile continuing his excellent year.
“So good in fact, has his form been, as a skipper that already calls have been made that he looms as a likely candidate not only for his first All-Australian jumper, but that of captain of the team.
“Zach Merrett's been an excellent form leading the reinvigorated Bombers, and Lachie Neale and Harris Andrews have also started the year in great form with the exception of Round 1.
“Alex Pearce has been solid in defence for Fremantle who have been under fire, and all of Patrick Dangerfield, Darcy Moore and Toby Green use Gather Round to play their best game of the year.
“Of all the captains, new and experienced Marcus Bontempelli, Dawson and probably Lachie Neale have started the strongest, and if the All-Australian side was picked after Round 5, which it's not, they'd be fighting it out for the honour of captain.”
While Healy acknowledged the form of several skippers, he feels there’s one man deserving of the honour above all contenders, Collingwood veteran Scott Pendlebury.
Even though Pendlebury has made six All-Australian sides, he’s never been named captain and while he’s no longer skipper of the Magpies, Healy believes he is more than deserving of the award.
“But there is one man who trumps them all, and by a long way, he started as well as anybody, rated in the top 10 players in the league by Champion Data,” Healy said.
“He's won a Norm Smith medal, been captain of his club for nine years, won the AFL Coaches Association Award in 2013.
“He’s won five best and fairests, and he will be in the running again for his sixth.
“The remarkable Scott Pendlebury is your early season favourite to be All-Australian captain.
“If Pendlebury’s form holds, he's your All-Australian captain for the very first time to complete a perfect footballing CV.”
The All-Australian team will be announced ahead of the 2023 finals series, during the pre-finals bye.