Fremantle midfielder David Mundy admits the chance to succeed Matthew Pavlich as captain is appealing, even though he is not a natural leader.
The Dockers yesterday announced Pavlich, 32, would continue as captain for an eighth season in 2014.
Mundy, Luke McPharlin, Aaron Sandilands, Matt de Boer and new addition Lee Spurr were the other players voted into the leadership group.
Spurr’s inclusion caps a remarkable rise up the ranks for the 26-year-old, who is preparing for his third AFL season after being plucked out of the SANFL as a mature-aged rookie.
Forwards Hayden Ballantyne and Chris Mayne were the two players from last year’s group to miss out.
This season will be Mundy’s sixth in the Dockers leadership group and he said stepping up as captain in the absence of Pavlich and McPharlin at times last year made him realise just how much he loved the role.
“I really relished that oppor- tunity to lead
the group on game day and I’m feeling more confident within my own role and the responsibilities which come with the leadership side of things,” he said.
“As you sort of get older you want to take a little bit more control with where the team goes, especially on game day and during the week leading up to that.
“I feel like I’m growing and leading in that direction.”
Mundy’s ability to lead from the front became obvious in last year’s grand final when the 28-year-old lifted in the second half to bring the Dockers back into contention, finishing third in voting for the Norm Smith Medal.
He said the disappointment of last season made the club hungry to continue proving its worth on the big stage.
“We enjoy the spotlight, we enjoy the big games,” he said.
“More scrutiny comes upon teams who are playing in those big games, so we welcome it.”
Source: http://au.news.yahoo.com/thewest/sport/a/20963237/mundy-prepared-for-top-job-after-pavlich/