Marc Murphy would have been Nick Stevens’ tip for Carlton captain, but the former Blue isn’t surprised that lower-profile rival Andrew Carrazzo could trump him.
The AFL club will announce Chris Judd’s replacement on Wednesday.
While midfield star Murphy was initially considered Judd’s heir apparent, Carrazzo’s star has risen under new coach Mick Malthouse over the pre-season to the extent that he’s favoured to get the nod.
From outside the club, the 29-year-old father of triplets has long lived in the shade of the likes of Judd and Murphy.
But Stevens, who arrived at Carlton in 2004, the same year as Carrazzo, and spent six seasons playing alongside him, said that was never the case within.
“He’s always up the front of the group and trains extremely hard,” Stevens told AAP.
“He’s someone that’s got the absolute best out of himself.
“I guess he has been in the other guys’ shadows because they have got such a great midfield.
“But behind closed doors he’s probably never been in the shadows.
“For all the playing group and the coaching staff and everyone at the club he’s always been a pretty big contender.”
Stevens believes 25-year-old Murphy will eventually get the job, if he doesn’t on Wednesday.
“I’d be very surprised if he doesn’t end up being captain down the track,” he said.
“I actually thought that Murphy might have been the choice, to be honest, just because of his age and everything like that.
“But obviously Mick tends to do things left of centre sometimes too.”
Carrazzo fits the mould of Nick Maxwell, appointed under Malthouse at Collingwood, as a player whose standing within a club exceeds his reputation outside.
Like Maxwell, he started his career through the rookie draft.
Carrazzo did it even tougher, spending two years as a Geelong rookie without playing a game, before being rookie-listed by the Blues.
The new captain could hoist his first trophy on Friday night when Carlton face Brisbane in the pre-season final.
Malthouse said while Richmond in round one remained the priority, there would be no holding back.
“When you’re in it, you’re there to win it,” he told the Blues’ website.
“All excuses are out.”
Malthouse added it would be psychologically beneficial to beat another side vying to climb into the top eight.
Judd will open his pre-season, after overcoming a hamstring strain.
“I’m looking forward to it. I haven’t ever won a NAB Cup grand final so it will be good to have a run and the hamstring’s feeling good,” the ex-skipper said.
