Kieren’s blog
By Kieren Jack
First of all, being named captain of the Sydney Swans is a huge honour. The Swans are a club that I’ve followed since I was a kid and I really admired and respected how professional they’ve been and how respected they are in the whole sporting world.
I think it’s one of the greatest clubs in Australia professionally and in the way they gain sponsorship and how they competitive they are on the field. So to be known as a co-captain is a massive honour.
This will be my eighth year at the club and I’ve been lucky to play under captains like Brett Kirk, Craig Bolton, Leo Barry and Adam Goodes. I’ve been able to see the strengths in their leadership and the way they go about it.
I think probably, the main constant is that under pressure, players really look to leaders on the field when it matters most and they’ve always know how to deliver. That’s sort of something I’m looking to do—just try to provide a really strong example to the whole group.
Former Sydney Swans captain Paul Kelly was someone who I really looked up to and really admired as a kid. I loved they way he went about it and I’ve spoken to ‘Kel’ a few times now. He’s not the most ‘out there’ person. He’s not a big talker or anything like that – he’s a real ‘doer’ and he just gets out there and does it.
That was the way he went about in his football—he provided an example, he lessened the load and the rest of the team jumped on board and followed him. I loved watching him play. He was a real inspiration to me growing up—he still is now, I still love going to have a chat with him. It’s sort of surreal to be able to talk with him; he’s been an inspiration since I was a kid.
Leadership is such a huge part of a football club. Your footy club relies on strong leadership and to be honest, it’s the reason why the Swans have been so competitive and so successful over the last 10-12 years. We’ve had 10 new players come into the club this year and I guess we ask ourselves who are they going to look up to?
They’re going to look to the leaders. They’ll look to Adam Goodes, and Jarrad McVeigh and myself and Jude Bolton and Ryan O’Keefe and see what they’re doing. If they’re doing the right thing, if they’re striving to get better and for continual improvement, that’s what the young blokes pick up on. That’s leadership. You want young blokes to follow and jump in and really buy into what you’re all about.
Strength in leadership groups and I suppose leaders in general—we want to have as many leaders as we can in the club. So, if everyone is doing the right thing, well, it can only be positive.