Adelaide’s senior leadership group will share vice-captaincy duties in Season 2015.
Taylor Walker was announced as Adelaide’s new captain on Wednesday from a six-man leadership group including Nathan van Berlo, Patrick Dangerfield, Rory Sloane, Daniel Talia and Scott Thompson.
Dangerfield and Sloane were Adelaide’s vice-captains last season and led the side in the absence of injured skipper Nathan van Berlo.
Adelaide CEO Andrew Fagan said the format made sense with such a strong contingent of leaders at the Club.
“There won’t be a nominated vice-captain,” Fagan said on FIVEaa on Thursday morning.
“We’ve got a broader leadership group that’s made up of six tremendous characters and they’ve all got a role to play.
“The other five members of the leadership group will share those responsibilities between them. We’ll just run with a captain and the senior leadership group.
Fagan said coach Phil Walsh and the Adelaide Board were unanimous in the decision to share vice-captaincy duties among the group.
“For a group of young men, they’re tremendously mature.”
“For me it’s straightforward and nice and clean, and Walshy sees it the same way.”
New skipper Taylor Walker said he would not change his approach to football in the wake of Wednesday’s announcement.
Fagan said it was a credit to Walker’s approach to football and life that saw him land the role in the first place.
“I’m tremendously pleased. He’s a natural leader, and he’ll become a more natural media personality.
“I was part of the leadership group discussion when Phil’s final decision was communicated and the feedback from the players, without going into detail, was positive. It was pro-active, it was constructive (and) it was about ensuring Tex was going to be the best possible captain."
Fagan also said out-of-contract pair Patrick Dangerfield and Rory Sloane were among the first to congratulate Walker when the final call was made.
“They were really supportive, they’re quality individuals, they’re mates of ‘Tex’ and they’re supportive of whatever decision the coach needs to make.”
