Buckley Endorses Maxwell As The Pies' New Captain
The Age
Thursday December 18, 2008
COLLINGWOOD has opted for a no-frills appointment for its 45th captain, announcing that defender Nick Maxwell will assume the mantle vacated by Scott Burns at the end of last season.
Maxwell, 25, began his career at Collingwood as a rookie-listed player in 2002, but did not play his first senior game until 2004, when he made a significant impact and was elevated to the senior list the following year.But according to club legend Nathan Buckley, Maxwell showed all the hallmarks of a future leader from the moment he joined the Magpies."He's been a leader at the club basically ever since he walked in the door," Buckley, who chose Maxwell to wear the No.5 guernsey that he made famous, said yesterday."This is a guy that was born to lead and he's led in all areas of his life."Buckley, who captained the Magpies when Maxwell arrived at the club and is still good friends with the new skipper, said he would be happy to assist Maxwell as he adjusts to the new role."There's no doubt that if he feels comfortable enough to want to ask questions about different things, that I'd be there for him," Buckley said."But he's the man doing the job at the moment and he's there with the other guys, I'm on the outside looking in, so he's probably in the position to deal with those things but I'm always here to bounce things off, as I have been in the past."Speaking at a press conference yesterday, Maxwell said he was humbled by the announcement, which also confirmed the appointments of vice-captains Josh Fraser and Scott Pendlebury and deputy vice-captains Dane Swan and Shane O'Bree.Tarkyn Lockyer is the sixth member of the Magpies' leadership group."I think any one of (the other members of the leadership group) could be sitting here right now and I think that's the strength of our football club at the moment," Maxwell said."Also though, the reality has set in that I've got a job to do ... because we're here to win premierships."We've got a young team and they need a lot of guidance and we need to get our game plan right with (coach) Mick (Malthouse) and get us heading in the right direction because our supporters have waited a while now for a premiership and it's time in the next couple of years that we delivered it."Since breaking through to the senior side in 2004 Maxwell has earned numerous accolades within his club, including two Darren Millane awards for best clubman in 2005 and 2007, and the Gavin Brown award - for making efforts such as tackling and smothering - for the past two years.He was also noted for playing through this year's finals series despite having a broken wrist.Malthouse, who recommended Maxwell's appointment to the Collingwood board, said it was the new skipper's rapport with the younger players that made him the standout candidate for the job."It was a very, very easy choice in the end, to be able to say that we needed a Nick Maxwell to guide these young players," Malthouse said."Because it's not something he's going to be new to, because he's been doing it since he's been at the football club."We are a young club, he has been excellent in all areas and I think that Nick Maxwell is going to be one of the great captains in the AFL."
© 2008 The Age
