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Which is the Best Place
On Field for Captain?
By Vic Johnson
A NY position near the centre of the
ground I consider desirable for tbe j
captain of a team. But of all posi
tions, my choice falls on that of a fol
lower.
This is my reply to a question from
a country reader.
Two positions on the ground that I
do not favor are full-back and full
forward. In these positions a cap
tain is too far away from the actual
field play to be able to direct his men
successfully.
My choice of the position of follower
as the best for a captain is made from
actual experience. During the five
years that I led Port, I always played
as a follower, and found that I could
move to any part of the ground during
the game.
I could encourage players, urge them
on, and be among them all the time.
I found it much better to make a
change by telling a player quietly than
by passing it from one player to an
other as captains m other positions
must.
Particularly was it beneficial with
any new players in the side. New
men are apt to be nervous and a word
of encouragement at the right moment
helps them a great deal in their game,
and gives them a chance to settle
down.
Apart from this, 1 found it helped to
direct the nlay of even the more exr
perienced players. One could see any
openings that occurred, tell his men
just how much time they had to kick,
and urge them at all times to greater i
efforts. |
Certainly there have been success
ful captains of league teams who have
played in other positions, but this is
ieflnitel- my choice.
I know of three fine ruck men
who met with much success as cap
tains — Tom Leahy, Bruce McGregor,
and Percy Furler.
There have, of course, been many
others, but these are men whose names
come readily to mind.
Tom Leahy was a champion of cham
pions, and McGregor and Furler have
nany times lifted their teams to great
leights by their own inspired efforts.
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