Speculation over who will be the Crows’ next captain increased on Tuesday when Goodwin made the announcement that this year would be his last.
Midfielder Nathan van Berlo, who is already a member of Adelaide’s eight-man leadership group, is the raging favourite to take over from Goodwin but some supporters are calling for Dangerfield to assume the mantle.
Dangerfield has won plenty of admirers for his fearless attack on the ball and game-breaking ability, but Craig said the 20-year-old was still forging a name for himself in the AFL.
“Leadership potential is probably a good term for Patrick. He’s still very young. He’s showing some real interest in that aspect of the game…but [the captaincy] is a much greater responsibility than just playing ability now,” Craig said on Thursday.
“When Patrick’s available he tends to get picked for us and he’s been in good form, but he’s still establishing himself as an AFL player and he’s still got a lot to learn from a playing point of view."
Craig acknowledged Dangerfield's growing voice within the Crows, but said Chris Knights, van Berlo and ruckman Ivan Maric were also developing as potential leaders.
In 1993, former North Melbourne great Wayne Carey was 21 when he became the second-youngest captain in VFL/AFL history.
However, this feat is unlikely to matched at West Lakes, with Craig saying age and experience would both be factors in determining Goodwin’s successor.
“Age isn’t irrelevant to the captaincy because of the responsibility that goes with it,” he said.
“It would be very unusual for a first-year player to come in and be the captain of a footy club because they haven’t had the experiences that you get after a period of time and experiences that you need.”
Goodwin’s decision to retire triggered debate over the future of fellow Adelaide veterans Andrew McLeod, Brett Burton and Tyson Edwards; talk, that in Edwards' case at least, became superfluous when he announced his immediate retirement on Thursday afternoon.
McLeod, 33, has been in great touch but like Edwards did, Burton has struggled for form and fitness.
Craig denied he had spoken to either of the players about their futures in the game and said the situation would play out over the next 13 weeks.
