Burns' Retirement To Bring Third Leader In Three Years

The Age

Monday September 22, 2008

Michael Gleeson

COLLINGWOOD captain Scott Burns will announce his retirement from football today.

Burns, who confirmed his decision with coach Michael Malthouse last Friday, will join Shane Wakelin, Ryan Lonie and Brodie Holland in ending his playing days.

Former first-round draft pick Chris Egan and Sam Iles were told last week they would not be kept on the list next year and will be traded or delisted.

The club is likely to have four or five picks in the draft as midfielder Sharrod Wellingham will be promoted to the senior list, as, possibly, will impressive small forward Brent McCaffer.

Burns' retirement will be announced at a news conference today. At 33, he ends his career on 264 games, having missed the final rounds of the season and then the Magpies' two finals because of a calf injury.

He is believed to have had only vague inquiries from clubs interested to know of his plans for next year, and has yet to receive a firm job offer for an assistant coaching position.

Burns would, however, be expected to be well sought after as an assistant. While vacancies exist at Collingwood after the departure of Guy McKenna and Alan Richardson, Burns is likely to seek to work and learn in a new environment.

His retirement means that after a decade of stable leadership under Nathan Buckley, the Magpies will have a third captain in as many years.

Last year, Collingwood waited until the end of pre-season summer training to see which players further emerged as leaders before filling the vacancy with the highly respected Burns.

It is not known whether the club will adopt a similar wait-and-see approach this year or appoint a successor immediately.

Vice-captains Josh Fraser and Nick Maxwell have grown in leadership estimations this year. Fraser played well whenever he was asked to lead in Burns' absence, while Maxwell, importantly, has played well in every final in which he has appeared.

Although not among the best handful of players at the club, Maxwell is clearly one of the best leaders. Indeed it is the fact that he squeezes so much out of his ability that recommends him.

Other younger players in Scott Pendlebury and Travis Cloke will begin to emerge in leadership roles.

© 2008 The Age

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