SELWOOD, COTCHIN, PENDLEBURY: WHO HAS BEEN THE BETTER PLAYER AND CAPTAIN?By Nathan John
SEN
18 June 2021With Joel Selwood, Trent Cotchin and Scott Pendlebury in their twilight years as footballers, which has had the better career as player and captain?
Garry Lyon and Tim Watson put the question to four-time Hawthorn premiership player Jordan Lewis on Thursday morning.
“Selwood is my gut feel,” Lewis told SEN Breakfast.
“Just the body of work… (though) you’re splitting hairs against these three.”
Since he played in three premierships across his first five seasons, Selwood has captained the Cats for 10 seasons, won six All-Australian nods and captured three Carji Greeves Medals.
The 33-year-old is also a four-time winner of the AFLPA Robert Rose Most Courageous Player Award, and has played in 34 finals, behind only Michael Tuck and Shaun Burgoyne.
“The way he’s been able to play and perform at a high level in finals, for me gets him the edge over the other two,” Lewis continued.
“(Though) you could probably make a case for each one of those players. I don’t think it’s fair if I sit here and name one.”
Richmond captain Trent Cotchin has similarly been a rock in the Tigers’ leadership, having served as captain since 2013.
The 31-year-old has been a defining presence in the reigning premiers’ pressure game, having subdued the silkier side that carried him to the 2012 Brownlow Medal.
“His last five, six years have been unbelievable,” Watson enthused.
“A (three-time) premiership captain… he’s changed his style of play too. We rarely see someone go from what he was and turn into what he has become as a player.”
Lewis similarly commended Cotchin’s selfless contribution to the Tigers’ triptych of triumphs in 2017, 2019 and 2020.
“For me, he could have had more All-Australians, or more individual accolades, but there was a decision made five or six years ago to go ‘no, I don’t care about that, I’m investing in the team’, Lewis explained.
“That’s why (becoming a) three-time premiership captain is an extraordinary effort, because he could have gone the other way and not had that.”
Collingwood champion Scott Pendlebury is the Magpies’ games record holder, and has captained the club for eight seasons.
Since he was selected at No.5 in the 2005 national draft, Pendlebury has accumulated six All-Australian jackets and five Copeland Trophies.
He also won the Norm Smith Medal in the 2010 Grand Final Replay, as the Pies tore apart a weary St Kilda.
“He’s still their best player,” Lewis marvelled.
So who is the best of the triumvirate?
“Impossible,” Lyon concluded.
“It’s an unfair, impossible question. They’re all-time greats and they’ll all be in the Hall of Fame.”
https://www.sen.com.au/news/2021/06/18/selwood-cotchin-pendlebury-who-has-been-the-better-player-and-captain/
