Scroll down the Werribee
honour board over the
past 20 years and you
will quickly be struck
by one thing â the VFL Tigers
have enjoyed quality on-field
leadership.
The names flow from former
Fitzroy star Leon Harris, to
subsequent Fremantle Dockers
coach Damian Drum, premiership
coach Donald McDonald, state
full-back Lynton Fitzpatrick,
mercurial forward Jack Aziz,
Liston Trophy winner Michael
Frost, the inspirational Trent
Dominic Gleeson takes on the daunting task
of captaining Weribee post-Podsiadly.
Churchill, best and fairest winner
Scott Faulkner and state captain
Travis Robertson.
And then, of course, was
Liston Trophy winner, best and
fairest and state representative
James Podsiadly.
When Podsiadly dropped
the bombshell he was leaving,
ostensibly for work opportunities,
to play with Geelong, it created a
Grand Canyon-like void.
Dominic Gleeson, like all his
teammates, was so gob-smacked
that he didnât even think of a likely
successor, let alone that
he himself would fill the position.
But when the news finally sank
in, Gleeson, a close friend of
Podsiadly, openly embraced the
idea and gained the full support of
coach Simon Atkins and the rest
of the coaching staff.
âDom is an all-round package,
plus he has a little more
experience than Robbie Castello,â
Atkins explained.
âHe would tell you straight up
that he sees it as a big challenge,
but since heâs had the captaincy
heâs improved in areas that
probably he didnât even think
he could.
âOne thing that really
impressed me is that everyone
at the club knows heâs the
captain, and heâs set his own high
standards in discipline.â
Gleeson acknowledges he has
big shoes to fill and heâs quick
to set the record straight â he
will never be a match-winner
like Podsiadly or Robertson.
He said his emphasis was to
ensure everybody played with the
commitment, belief, discipline
and principals the club had
established over the journey.
Gleeson noted that when he
first arrived at Werribee he was
determined to make the club his
home and have an impact during
his time.
âTo be captain of the Werribee
Football Club is such an honour.
When you look at the honour
board there is a bit of pressure to
uphold the standard those guys
have set,â Gleeson said.
âIâve played under âChurchyâ,
âRobboâ and, of course âPodsâ. Robbo
and Pods were game-breakers and
Churchy was so inspirational; the
heart and soul of the club.
âThatâs what I would like to
be. Iâve still got so much more
to learn, and thereâs a lot more
work ahead for me to become
Last Modified on 15/05/2009 23:30