LEADERSHIP RESHUFFLE FOR THE CATS
Ben Jensen 19 January 2009

By Ben Jensen (Edinburgh) LOOKS LIKE we spoke to soon about it being all quiet at Geelong. It was announced that while Tom Harley and Cameron Ling remain as Captain and Vice Captain, 2008 Best and Fairest winner Joel Corey will replace Cameron Mooney as Deputy Vice Captain for season 2009. Mooney, Paul Chapman and Max Rooke all formally step down from the 'leadership group, making way for Gary Ablett, Jimmy Bartel, Joel Selwood and Corey Enright.

Cats footy Tsar Neil Balme said it was important all senior players had a chance at a formal leadership role and those who stepped down would continue to play a leading role.

“The leadership program and our players having significant input is something that we have worked hard on over the past few years. We feel that this is a strong area of the club and that the players that have been involved in the program should take a lot of pride in that. Three players have stepped aside to allow some of our younger leaders to step forward," Balme said.

“It would have been easy to simply continue with the same group, and it is a credit to Cameron, Max and Paul that they recognised that it is important for new players to be involved in the process. We believe that in Gary, Jimmy, Corey and Joel we have an excellent group of players join the group.”

Ablett and Bartel started their AFL careers in 2002, Selwood in 2007 winning the NAB Rising Star award in Geelong's Premiership season. Twenty-seven year old Enright debuted in 2000 after growing up in Kimba on South Australia's Eyre Peninsula.