Over the years, the Collingwood Football Club has been blessed with a remarkable array of fine, strong, inspirational on-field leaders. To be named the captain of Collingwood is, in our admittedly biased view, to receive one of football's highest honours. It is an honour that has fallen to a relatively select band since the club's inception: all who have filled the position are outstanding individuals with elite football talent and exceptional leadership skills. The roll call includes many of the biggest names in football, such as Syd Coventry, Harry Collier, Jack Regan, Phonse Kyne, Lou Richards, Murray Weideman, Len Thompson, Peter Moore, Nathan Buckley and more. But it's not always the most gifted athletes who make the best leaders. There is something innate and intangible about great leadership: it's not always easy to define, but players know it when they see it. So beyond the obvious champions, the Magpies are also fortunate to have been led by a number of players who might never have been likely to win a Brownlow, but who earned the respect and affection of their teammates through hard work and commitment. Captains like Con McCarthy, Frank Tuck, Mark Williams, Scott Burns and Nick Maxwell all truly 'led from the front'. All Magpie skippers have had vision and courage, were able to lead by example and continually looked for better ways to get things done. They carried responsibility well, were committed to their tasks and had respect both for and of their peers. They were usually charismatic, often driven, and without exception they understood that to achieve the pinnacle in sport you need a champion team that pulls together. To a man they inspired, showed others the way and were prepared to do whatever was needed to make the Collingwood Football Club stronger. All supporters owe them a huge debt of gratitude.