The empty captaincy position at Collingwood is not a distraction, according to Magpies’ star Scott Pendlebury.
The Pies have yet to announce a replacement for veteran defender Nick Maxwell, who stepped down from the position after the club experienced a disappointing 2013.
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Despite losing Dale Thomas and letting the likes of Alan Didak and Darren Jolly walk this off-season, Collingwood still possess a number of key candidates for the role of captain.
“We do our leadership as a playing group, so come February when we sit down and we do that we will go from there,” Pendlebury told the Herald Sun.
“Maxy has been fantastic for the footy club and it’s been great to learn off him and guys like Bally (Luke Ball) as well.
“I haven’t been in the leadership group for a while for no reason, it’s something that I want to do, but at the same time it’s up to the players to decide.
“That’s something that all the players respect.”
Pendlebury also dismissed the notion the club cleaned house after the 2013 season due to a need for ‘culture change’.
“Guys were frustrated we weren’t winning,” Pendlebury explained.
“In 2009, ’10, ’11 we won a lot of games and footy clubs are great places to be around when you win.
“(We were) just dealing with up and downs. It was a bit of a bumpy ride last year and we just want to get back on track next season and hopefully win lots of games of footy next season and everyone will be happy.”
Pendlebury and Brownlow Medallist Dane Swan are widely considered the front runners to succeed Maxwell’s position, but dark horse candidates may include Dayne Beams and Luke Ball.
The Pies moved on 10 players this AFL off-season- including Heath Shaw, Jackson Paine and Andrew Krakouer- and received a number of familiar faces in return, led by former Swan Jesse White, GWS recruit Taylor Adams and former Lion Patrick Karnezis.
In other Collingwood news, Swan is set to receive a sizeable extension that will see him remain at the club until the end of 2016 when he will be 32.
Swan finished second in 2013’s Brownlow Medal count, two votes behind winner Gary Ablett, and joined his fifth consecutive All-Australian squad.
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