Veteran Collingwood midfielder Steele Sidebottom has taken himself out of the running to be the Pies’ next skipper after Scott Pendlebury stepped down as captain earlier this the month.
Sidebottom served as vice-captain for seven of Pendlebury’s nine seasons in the role, but was not named in the Pies’ four-man leadership group for 2022.
Turning 32 next month, Sidebottom believes it is too late for him to step into the top job now.
READ MORE: Tearful Becker recounts multiple prison death threats
READ MORE: Djokovic cancels on Kyrgios at eleventh hour
READ MORE: Aussie Test star snags Big Bash hat trick
“I think the boat has sailed for me, to be honest,” he said at a club press conference on Wednesday.
Asked which direction the club would go in to appoint its 48th captain, Sidebottom was unsure whether the Collingwood board would opt for a senior leader or experiment with a promising youngster.
Selection of the club’s captain is a player-led process. Firstly, the playing group and key senior staff nominate and vote on candidates before a final choice is presented to the board for approval.
One potential contender is star defender Jeremy Howe.
Named in the Pies’ leadership group for the fifth time this season, Sidebottom said Howe could undoubtedly fulfil the role, but suspected Pendlebury’s successor would inject fresh blood.
“I guess Pendles is 34 and Howie is 33, could Howie be captain? Howie could definitely captain the footy club,” he said.
“But I think it’ll be someone who is probably a little bit younger.
“There’s a process in place, whoever gets the votes, there’ll be discussions all around it.
“Whether he’s 32 or 28, the right person will be put in that position.
“There are guys there that are ready to do the job, but I guess it is great Pendles is still here because he can help guide those guys through it and it’ll help them going forward.
“Time will tell, we’ll tally all of the votes and see what happens.”
Upon announcing his retirement, Pendlebury said his new role would be to “support the next captain of our club”.
Also named as a vice-captain in 2022, Darcy Moore will be in the mix, according to Sidebottom.
“Yeah, I would have thought,” he said regarding whether 26-year-old Moore would be put forward.
“There’s going to be a few guys there that’ll definitely be candidates and Darcy will definitely be one of those.
“He’s a great player for one, he’s a great leader and someone that people love to be around at the footy club.”
Other contenders for the captaincy include Taylor Adams, dual best and fairest winner Jack Crisp, and All-Australian defender Brayden Maynard.
Collingwood is expected to make its announcement in the new year.
For a daily dose of the best of the breaking news and exclusive content from Wide World of Sports, subscribe to our newsletter by clicking here
The biggest controversies in AFL history
