And there is every chance that the next captain of the club could be just the second Bulldogs skipper after Charlie Sutton to lead the red, white and blue to a premiership in 1954.
AFL.com.au looks at six players most likely to be in the race to succeed Brad Johnson as captain and former Dog Luke Darcy assesses their chances.
MATTHEW BOYD
Boyd has built his career as a low-profile but consistent and highly-respected part of the Bulldogs’ midfield. His chances have been talked up over the summer months and it wouldn’t surprise to see him be given the role.
Pros: Consistency. He rarely has a bad game and is one of the most reliable players in the league.
Cons: He does tend to fly under the radar, which might be to the liking of the football department but membership and marketing forces may need a more recognisable head in the role.
Darcy says: "I think he is one of the great stories. He doesn’t get publicised as much as you would think. He was on the rookie list and came through the VFL system. I really admire him. For work ethic and desperation to be the best he can be, he’s almost out on his own in that regard. He’s got this great ability, which he has developed over the past few years. He sets such a high standard for himself and what he demands. I really like his style with that. He’s not backward in demanding that of other players as well. He would be a great captain as well."
ADAM COONEY
With a Brownlow already around his neck, Cooney brings with him the type of profile that normally goes with the face of a club. He is an accomplished player and at 25 would be a perfect age to take over the captaincy with a view to the long-term.
Pros: Barry Hall aside, Cooney probably has the biggest profile of any current day Bulldog and has the confidence to be the public face of the club.
Cons: A renowned larrikin who is a little left of centre, Cooney doesn’t fit the traditional concept of an AFL captain. Conservative types might shy away from making him the No.1 leader.
Darcy says: "Coons is a bit different to the other guys. I think everything footy-wise came to him pretty easily from a young age. He’s got so much talent, so much skill and ability. That only gets you so far but in recent years he has been able to combine that with being genuinely tough. His ability to play with injury and push himself is great. He is quiet and doesn’t say much, half the time he looks like he’s asleep, but he does have that belief in himself and what he can do. Since I’ve left, from what I understand he has really stepped up from a leadership point of view."
DANIEL CROSS
Like Boyd, he represents the consistent, low-profile engine room of the Bulldogs. He is renowned for his work ethic and bravery, two qualities that would not have gone unnoticed by Rodney Eade in his time at the helm.
Pros: He sets the tone for effort both on game day and at training. With a host of young players coming through, Cross is a great role model for the younger brigade in the same way that Scott West was for him as a youngster.
Cons: He racks up a lot of touches but doesn’t take charge of games. Unlikely to kick many “captains goals”.
Darcy says: "He is very similar to Matthew. They are very close mates and play a similar type of footy. Daniel is someone who I would put up as one of the most professional players in the league. His attention to detail is superb. He leads by example and has done so from an early age. He hasn’t got a lot of natural ability and I mean this in a complimentary way, but it has been extraordinary what he has been able to get out of himself."
DANIEL GIANSIRACUSA
The 28-year-old has flagged his interest in the role he has filled on occasion in the past. One of the Bulldogs’ more consistent players, Giansiracusa is considered a strong favourite to take over the captaincy.
Pros: With 193 matches to his name he has represented the Bulldogs more than any other current player and knows the place inside out.
Cons: With Johnson, Eagleton and Akermanis all departing, the time might have come for a fresh change at the top and the Dogs may want to go for someone younger than 28. Also, there are still questions about his ability to step up on the big stage after a couple of quiet finals.
Darcy says: "One of the great things about moving on and watching guys from afar and not seeing them day to day is watching them grow as individuals.. He is an incredibly solid person, Danny, both on and off the field. He is really disciplined and a hard worker. He is fanatical about his footy and is one of those great people that other people like to be around."
SHAUN HIGGINS
One of the league’s brightest young stars, Higgins represents the future of the Bulldogs. The club thinks highly enough of him to have included him in the leadership group when he was only 21. He has also taken the bold step of publically announcing his interest in the top job.
Pros: Will be a long-term player with the Bulldogs and the club could set themselves up around his leadership for years to come.
Cons: He may be too young at this stage and his football might suffer with the burden of captaincy. He is part of the leadership group and will be considered but is unlikely to get the top job just yet.
Darcy says: "When he first walked in, a lot of us thought he would be captain of the Bulldogs one day. But 99 per cent of the things he has gone through are out of his control. He has just had some bad luck with injury and illness. He hasn’t been able to get continuity going. I think for the moment that will be their focus for him, get him through a couple of seasons in a row. When that is the case he is as natural a leader as anyone at the club."
ROBERT MURPHY
Known as much for his worldliness as his mercurial ability on the field, Murphy is a perfect role model for the Bulldogs’ younger brigade. He has had injury problems but played 21 of a possible 25 games last year so durability isn’t too much of a concern.
Pros: Does seem to be one of the more popular among the playing group and well respected as well.
Cons: Like his good mate Giansiracusa, he is one of the elder statesmen of the group. If the Dogs were to go with experience over youth, then Gia is more likely to get the nod.
Darcy says: "He is a unique bloke, Murph. He probably doesn’t really seek out to achieve those types of titles. He is a bit more laid-back in his own right. But don’t underestimate how passionate he is about the Bulldogs. He understands the history of the place and wants to achieve success just as much as anyone. He is a different type of leader to the other guys who have been mentioned but I have got no problem with him being captain."
The views expressed in this article are those of the author and not necessarily those of the AFL or its clubs
