Cajun
05-05-2005, 08:39 PM
Veteran midfielder Stuart Maxfield has relinquished the Sydney captaincy and has been replaced by stand-in skipper Brett Kirk.
Maxfield, 33, told the club he was stepping down from the position after it was revealed earlier in the week that he would commute to and from Melbourne each week for family reasons.
He will fly to Melbourne every Monday before returning on Thursday for Sydney's main training session each week.
"It has been a great honour to captain the Sydney Swans but I have always been one to give everything I do one hundred per cent," Maxfield said on Thursday.
"Obviously in the circumstances that prevail that is not possible and I believe it is in the best interest of all concerned that I stand aside."
Coach Paul Roos paid tribute to Maxfield.
"He has been a fantastic captain and will obviously still be a major leader around the club."
Maxfield has played 289 AFL matches, including 89 with Richmond from 1990-95.
Kirk, who has played 103 matches for the Swans since making his AFL debut in 1999, will lead the Swans after developing into one of the most respected players at the club.
The 28 year-old has finished second in Sydney's best-and-fairest award in the past two seasons, was named an All-Australian in 2004 and represented Australia in the 2003-04 International Rules Series.
No decision has been made on the captaincy for the long-term.
http://afl.com.au/default.asp?pg=news&spg=display&articleid=200745
poor bugger. having ya ex-wife move back to melb with your kid could not be a good feeling.
Maxfield, 33, told the club he was stepping down from the position after it was revealed earlier in the week that he would commute to and from Melbourne each week for family reasons.
He will fly to Melbourne every Monday before returning on Thursday for Sydney's main training session each week.
"It has been a great honour to captain the Sydney Swans but I have always been one to give everything I do one hundred per cent," Maxfield said on Thursday.
"Obviously in the circumstances that prevail that is not possible and I believe it is in the best interest of all concerned that I stand aside."
Coach Paul Roos paid tribute to Maxfield.
"He has been a fantastic captain and will obviously still be a major leader around the club."
Maxfield has played 289 AFL matches, including 89 with Richmond from 1990-95.
Kirk, who has played 103 matches for the Swans since making his AFL debut in 1999, will lead the Swans after developing into one of the most respected players at the club.
The 28 year-old has finished second in Sydney's best-and-fairest award in the past two seasons, was named an All-Australian in 2004 and represented Australia in the 2003-04 International Rules Series.
No decision has been made on the captaincy for the long-term.
http://afl.com.au/default.asp?pg=news&spg=display&articleid=200745
poor bugger. having ya ex-wife move back to melb with your kid could not be a good feeling.