WHITTLESEA midfielder Brent Bransgrove will captain the Northern Blues Football Club for the 2014 season.
Bransgrove, 25, has been re-elected for a third successive year having held the captaincy position in a joint role with Andre Gianfagna from 2012 to 2013.
This is the first year he has held the position outright.
Speaking to northernbluesfc.com.au, the Blues veteran said he was honoured by the opportunity to lead “a great football club”.
"It’s obviously very humbling to be re-selected by your peers and your coaches, it reaffirms that I’ve been doing the right things over the past few years," Bransgrove said.
"I love this club and I love being around the boys, getting around them and pushing them on.
"I feel like the old man of the group with the amount of young guys we have in, but it’s very exciting. We can’t wait for the season to start."
The voting process for the captain, vice-captain and leadership group positions was conducted during the Northern Blues training camp at Anglesea in February.
Northern Blues coach Luke Webster said of the voting process: “It was a very tight vote for the top three. They’re all thoroughly deserving of their positions.”
Described by former Northern Bullants coach, David Teague, as “the toughest footballer I’ve ever seen play the game”, Bransgrove enters his eighth season at the Northern Blues (formerly Northern Bullants).
His Blues commitments have limited his appearances for Whittlesea, last playing for the Eagles in 2011.
After 103 games with the Blues and playing witness to an array of changes in personnel over the years – both in coaching staff and the playing group – Bransgrove said he is excited by the challenge of a new year.
"Obviously we’ve had a lot of changes to our list in the last year and that presents new opportunities for guys to challenge themselves and play the best footy they can.
"That’s an exciting prospect for the club. We can grow from this year."
Bransgrove leads a seven-man leadership group announced last night, flanked by 54-gamer Tyson Thomas and new recruit Joel Wilkinson as his deputies.
Paul Dirago, Tim Totevski, Tom Grimes and Tom Wilson round out the leadership group.
Coach Webster praised Bransgrove’s ability to bring the best out of the playing group, saying he is the ideal choice a captain.
“Brent’s been superb for us for a number of years, he’s acted as a spiritual leader of our club,” Webster said.
“The way he plays his footy, cracking in and under and being really hard at the footy is terrific.
“Off-field, the way he generates the spirit with the boys as a club, and as a part of the Northern Blues, is invaluable. He’s the perfect choice to have.
“It’s a great reward again for him to be announced captain of our football club.
Player Profile
Name: Brent Bransgrove
Better Known As: Box, Boxy, Boxer
Former Club: Northern Knights, Whittlesea
Height: 170cm
Weight: 70kg
Date Of Birth: June 28, 1988
Games: 103 (73 VFL, 30 Development)
Achievements:
Northern Blues Captain 2014
Northern Blues Co-Captain 2012-13
Northern Blues 100 Club Games
Northern Bullants Leadership Group 2009-11
Best Clubman 2011
This article and photo are courtesy of Northern Blues FC.
