Gary Ablett says Jaeger O'Meara, right, could be the next captain of the Gold Coast Suns. Picture: Glenn Hampson Source: Gold Coast Bulletin
GARY Ablett says he expects to retire a Suns premiership player but not captain and has anointed teenager Jaeger O'Meara as his potential replacement.
Ablett also identified David Swallow and Tom Lynch as young players with outstanding leadership credentials who would make worthy skippers.
O'Meara has yet to play an AFL game as he was ineligible because of age restrictions in 2012.
But Ablett said O'Meara displayed maturity beyond his years and the fact he has yet to taste senior action did not mean he could not quickly emerge as his successor.
"He has got a lot of talent, he is a very hard worker and leads by example," he said.
"As soon as he gets the confidence and starts speaking up a bit more he could be the future captain of our football club."
Ablett has always maintained the Suns' first premiership would not come until the senior players recruited in 2010 to build the club were no longer the headline act on the football field.
He also believes that extends to the leadership of the side.
"I think we need it for the side to get better, and a couple of them have already stepped-up in the leadership group," he said.
"I think a lot of guys can step up into the leadership group next year and if they squeeze us older blokes out, they can take those duties and we can concentrate on our footy.
''Ablett is by no means trying to dump the captaincy but says he expects to play out his career under another captain."I'm enjoying it at the moment," he said.
"But when the coach and club think someone else is more suitable I'll happily hand it over.
"I've come here to win premierships and if that means someone else stepping into the captaincy that is fine by me."
Ablett's nomination of Lynch may surprise Suns fans but he is highly regarded by the match committee for his enormous work ethic and competitiveness and is one of the most respected voices in the side.
Ablett said this was the first pre-season where he felt the younger generation were ready to stamp themselves on the competition and take control of the side's destiny.
He said O'Meara, Swallow and Lynch were the drivers behind a new level of confidence and maturity from the side's crop of exciting young talent.
"Sometimes talented kids come to clubs but they don't really understand what it takes to be an AFL footballer," he said.
"From day one they have worked hard and they have listened, that is the main thing."
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