Former Port Adelaide captain Domenic Cassisi, left, at training with new vice-captain Brad Ebert. Picture: Sarah Reed. Source: The Advertiser
EXITING Port Adelaide captain Dom Cassisi has ruled himself out of contention for leadership group duties and believes it the ideal time for him to hand over the No. 1 jumper.
As his career is coming closer to its finish, he will follow predecessor Warren Tredrea's lead in finishing as a player, unofficial leader and obvious sounding board.
It is a move that had been discussed by Cassisi and incoming coach Ken Hinkley over summer and was finalised this week when Travis Boak was named the Power's fifth captain.
"Ken and I spoke again on Monday and on Monday night I sat down and felt a sense of relief, like it was a weight off my shoulders," he said.
"That to me says it's the right call, the right time, for everyone.
"Right time for the club, right time for me where I'm at in my career.
"I'm just really excited about the next step, which is helping the young guys around the club, assist (Boak) where I can and watching the next group of leaders come through.
"I'm not going to be part of the leadership group this year, so there will be some new faces in there, which is great. I'm looking forward to getting back and enjoying my footy and supporting the leaders where I can."
It's obviously been a huge honour to captain such a great club over the past four years
Hinkley believed it was the perfect model for the club and Boak and one which is gaining traction around the traps - a captain finishing up his business by overseeing the next skipper in his formative first year or two.
Cassisi, 30, joins Carlton's Chris Judd and North Melbourne's Brent "Boomer" Harvey in making room for a new leader and offering assistance in the background.
"He's been a great leader and a really well-respected player," Hinkley said.
"I think it's perfect when you've got an opportunity to help somebody, help guide and we've seen that with some clubs in the short-term now, with Juddy having made the decision and `Boomer' Harvey.
"Dom's a perfect person (for that).
"He is an absolute role model who will have somebody step into his shoes almost but still help him ... he just does that.
"That's just Dom.
"Dom Cassisi just helps people and that's what he'll do and that's perfect for us."
Cassisi was pragmatic when reflecting on the past four years, which have been difficult years outside the finals for the club.
He will miss the almost nightly phone calls to his fellow leadership group members - he and Dean Brogan were constantly in contact over ways in which the group could improve - but was also pragmatic about his career moving into another phase.
He can also look forward to the future: he remains one of the club's most consistent players and his captaincy will be remembered by his teammates as a unifying force during difficult times.
"It's obviously been a huge honour to captain such a great club over the past four years," Cassisi said.
"It's something I'll cherish for the rest of my life.
"I'm ready to support them in any way that I can.
"It's important for our club to move keep moving forward and I'm looking forward to the next part of the journey here at the footy club.
"I look forward to playing under these two guys."
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