AFL star Brent Harvey now faces the same conundrum as good mate Ricky Ponting – what to do when you’re not captain any more.
Ponting’s advice during a catch-up with the North Melbourne veteran on Friday?
Concentrate on your own game, and mentor young players in the background.
Ponting stood down as Australia’s cricket captain 12 months ago and reverted to player-only status, with success in the Test arena but the recent loss of his one-day position.
Harvey, who turns 34 this year, has been replaced as North skipper by fellow midfielder Andrew Swallow as part of a more youthful leadership group.
The parallels are obvious – the dilemma of how to handle the role of veteran rather than leader less so.
But Ponting believes relinquishing the captaincy can make Harvey a better player – provided he doesn’t neglect his own game.
“I’m there now to answer questions, not to make the statements – that’s the way I look at it,” Ponting said of his pared-back role.
“I sit back in the corner with the advice if needed or required.
“Now that we’re not the face of the team any more … to be able to have dinner with guys, coffee with guys when they first come into the side and get to know them away from the cricket ground is a really good thing for the whole environment of any team.
“The important thing as I said to Boomer is make sure you don’t neglect your own game.
“Make sure you’re putting in as much time to get your game 100 per cent right, and then the spare time you have, spread the time evenly around the younger blokes.”
Harvey’s leadership replacements also got the chance to meet and hear from Ponting – a huge North fan and the club’s No.1 ticketholder – at their Arden Street headquarters on Friday.
For Harvey particularly, he walked away confident in both how the Kangaroos can perform this season, and the best way he can help the side crack the finals for the first time in four years.
“Some of the stuff he spoke about was very, very helpful,” Harvey said.
“Speaking to Ricky, he said one of the things you get to do now is take it all in. You’re not so much involved, but still involved.
“I’ll step back and guide Andrew and the young leadership group through and give them all the support and feedback they need.
“But this leadership group’s going to be a fantastic one.”
