The following article expresses the thoughts and opinions of one of our Brisbane Lions members. Lions.com.au will feature a column written by a different member each week for the remainder of the 2011 season.

"The Captain"

In the age of 10-man leadership groups and other methods of player empowerment, the role of a Captain is sometimes lost. There is a tendency for the Captain to be first amongst equals, the mere voicepiece of the playing group. While he is a leader, he may not be “the” leader.

In a throw back to eras gone by, the Lions have an old fashioned Club Captain. In Jonathan Brown, the Lions have a man who is clearly the leader of his Club. As a supporter, he is the man that you identify as the person in control. He is also recognised by his peers as a peerless leader, having won the AFL Players Association Best Captain award twice. No other current player has ever won that award.

Browny took over from another long term Captain who was always universally identified as the leader of the Club. Triple premiership captain Michael Voss also won the AFLPA Best Captain award, in each of the four years that the Lions made the Grand Final. Like Brown, Voss was never just a member of the Leadership Group. He was the Club’s Captain in the way that football used to see its Captains.

So, as a supporter, what do you want to see from your Captain?

Firstly, it is very rare that the Captain isn’t one of the best players in your side. It is difficult to lead from the front when you don’t have the ability to influence the outcome of the game. In 2002, Michael Voss changed the direction of a Grand Final with a 4th quarter that epitomised him as a leader - tough, uncompromising and totally driven. That he missed out on the Norm Smith Medal for his efforts did not take away from the fact that he was a good enough player to influence the contest to this extent. His performance screamed “follow me” to his teammates and they did, recording a famous victory. Only the best can deliver that type of performance when it counts. In Brown and Voss, the Lions have always had one of their best players in the captaincy.

Secondly, the Captain should be exacting in the standards he sets for his team. There can be no acceptance of “second best”. The Brown glare when the ball is delivered poorly to him has become almost a trademark. The sight of Voss barking directions from the midfield was synonymous with the Lions’ success.

Thirdly, the Captain should be inspiring, both to the players and supporters. The “Captain’s goal” might be a hackneyed footy saying to some, but nothing gets the blood rushing like an inspiring goal from the Captain.

Finally, the Captain must be fearless. A successful Captain gives no thought to personal safety. He cannot expect his teammates to go where he fears. In 2002, when Jonathan Brown ran back with the flight of the ball to take the AFL Mark of the Year, there was no doubt that he would be a leader of immense proportions. Last Sunday against Geelong, he attempted the same thing, with devastating results. Whether you believe Brown to be foolhardy or inspiring (or both), you cannot doubt the impact on his teammates when they see what the Captain is willing to do in the pursuit of team success. It would be hard for a player to shirk a contest after seeing Brown's commitment. Brown's actions on Sunday will resonate with this playing group for years to come, setting a standard with respect to fearless attack on the footy.

The Lions have always been fortunate to have quality leaders in its playing groups. The Lions’ premiership era had any number of players who could have captained the Club in their own right. Players like Leppitsch, Scott (x2), Black, Ashcroft and Lappin may well have been Captain had they played at other clubs. Brown has had able lieutenants in Simon Black and Luke Power by his side during his reign. Now, as the Club moves to a new era, the likes of Merrett, Adcock, Rockliff and Clark are getting the chance to prove their leaderships credentials under the tuition of the big number 16.

But, in Voss and Brown, the Lions are blessed to have had two of the great Captains at the helm over the past 15 years. Many other clubs would kill for leaders of their ilk. They are true leaders of men, Captains in the old fashioned sense.

- Bob (Member #1120089)

The views in this article are those of the author and not necessarily those of the Club.