Organisational stability has been a key to the West Coast Eagles’ brand for more than 30 years and it has again been reflected in the on-field leadership group for 2019.
Over the past four seasons the senior leaders within the playing squad have been consistent and those players, highly respected both within the club and across the AFL community, will remain in place for this year’s campaign.
When the action kicks off on Friday, with the opening JLT Community Series clash against Geelong, Shannon Hurn will begin his fifth season as captain.
Spearhead Josh Kennedy and Norm Smith medallist Luke Shuey will remain as joint vice-captains, positions they will hold for the third successive year.
Rounding out a leadership group that is blessed with quality are ruckman Nic Naitanui, key defender Jeremy McGovern and running machine Andrew Gaff.
General Manager Football, Craig Vozzo, said the club had undergone a similar process to previous seasons with input from the playing group before those recommendations were presented – and subsequently endorsed – by the Board.
“As a club we are fortunate to have such outstanding people in our leadership group,” Vozzo said.
“Not only are they all high quality players, but they are elite in so many respects, setting the standards both on and off-field for their teammates.
“We have been fortunate to have each of them at our club and they have worked in parallel with our coaching staff.
“The leadership group has been particularly important through a period when our playing list has undergone a significant transition over the last couple of seasons.”
