Western Bulldogs captain Matthew Boyd.
By Tim Doutré
Are some people really born to lead or do they develop those qualities over time? Tim Doutré caught up with captains Matthew Boyd (Western Bulldogs), Robbie Castello (Werribee Tigers) and Ben Jolley (Williamstown Seagulls) to find out how their lives had changed since taking the captaincy at their clubs and what it takes to be a leader.
A FEROCIOUS competitor and prolific ball-winner, Western Bulldog Matthew Boyd helps set the standard not only for his team but the AFL.
The midfielder took over the captaincy from Brad Johnson last season. Johnson’s impassioned leadership style and on-field exploits endeared him to fans as a true leader, but for Boyd, a “learn as you go” attitude combined with off-field relationships are keys to being a successful captain that often fly under the radar.
“I have a growth mindset, which means I want to learn and develop and I guess constantly evolve not only my leadership style but my footy,” Boyd said.
“In terms of leadership, one of the things I have learnt really quickly is the importance and the value you have to place on building relationships.
“I use the analogy that you have to put water in to the well constantly. You have to be putting something back, having conversations, and not just skimming conversations, but genuine conversations that get to the heart of matters, that show people you actually care.”
The ability to build relationships has significantly developed for Boyd since he took the top job. It was something Werribee captain Robbie Castello also placed great importance on.
“I’m always giving constructive feedback when I can, so really getting to know the players away from the club, their outside interests and building that friendship (is important),” he said.
“That’s something at Werribee we do really well, we are a close knit group and it’s something we pride ourselves on.”
On game day Boyd described the coin toss as a “nice” moment but when you see the Bulldogs huddled together before the first bounce this weekend, all eyes will be on him. The message will be part prepared, part coaching and part improvised.
“You have got to be able to read the mood of the players and the situation that you are in you can’t be totally premeditated with what you are going to say (in the huddle).
“You do have to read the situation but in saying that during the week for the last couple of days I will take in what the message is from the coaches and if some of the other leaders have any thoughts about how they are feeling and similar things we need to focus on I will think about those.
“It’s nice to be able to reinforce those messages to the players because a lot of things are going through their minds.”
Castello, in his first year captaining a VFL side, said his usual “chirpy” playing style has helped his leadership during pre-game talks and in general play.
“I am pretty easy going but you have to pick the right times when you can joke around and other times you have to make sure everyone is switched on, it’s all about knowing what environment you are in,” the 26-year-old said.
“I am always trying to give instructions where I can.”
Williamstown captain Ben Jolley was the logical successor to long-time captain Brett Johnson.
Jolley’s no frills, hard-at-the-ball style makes him, like Boyd and Castello, the perfect on-field leader – one who leads by example.
But in his first season captaining the VFL’s Seagulls, he described the top leadership role as a “learning curve”.
“As much as you try and tell yourself that you have been given the position based on what you have done previously, therefore you shouldn’t have to change anything, I think subconsciously you do. Whether it’s going out of your way to be more vocal in front of the group, I think subconsciously it has changed me for the better I’m sure.”
Boyd too found the “learning curve has been quite steep” when it came to taking on the captaincy.
“We had a period of pretty good success from 2008 to 2010 when we made prelims every year and we had got used to winning and having that level of success, I mean we are going through a pretty tough year this year as well, but last year wasn’t a great year for us – losing a coach and not making a final for the first time in a few years.”
Playing with the Bulldogs affiliate, Jolley, 26, regularly leads the next crop of Whitten Oval up and comers on to the park. The alignment is something he looks at when it comes to his leadership.
“You can see the leadership program at the Bulldogs and their leadership group… we try and echo the same message – it’s all about development and respect. That is what they are getting fed at the Western Bulldogs so we have to try and echo those thoughts.”
When it came to imparting advice to other captains, they differed in some respects but the underlying message was eerily similar – improvement is constant.
“My advice would be to just make sure that you are willing to learn and willing to develop and try new things,” Boyd said.
“Not be stuck in a mentality that you are not willing to change and develop yourself. I think people think when you are the captain that you are at the top and you don’t need to improve and you don’t need to get better but that is certainly not the case.”
Jolley added: “You have been given an opportunity as captain because people have identified the strengths in your personality that enable you to lead a group of men. What you have done in the past, yes, continue to do that but also seek out feedback in areas you feel you lack or need improvement.”
And sure enough Castello reiterated:
“Always look for feedback. You never know everything. It’s something I got taught at a young age being the youngest of six boys you can never get enough feedback, you don’t know everything. It didn’t matter who was talking to me as a junior, I took on board the things that I thought could help me improve.”
