MICHAEL Boogaard wasn’t captain material – too fiery.
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That’s his own assessment.
‘‘I might have done it a couple of times in schoolboy teams,’’ the former KB United, Adamstown Rosebud and St George hard man said.
‘‘I was usually fairly fiery, there wasn’t much point.’’
Although Boogaard’s aggressive streak has been passed on, in part, to son Nigel, the former defender said the Jets new skipper had always displayed leadership qualities.
‘‘He has an inner strength,’’ said Boogaard senior, who along with his partner Shayne, Nigel’s mother Sherin and Nigel’s wife Kerryn and her family were present at Ray Watt Oval on Monday for the captaincy announcement.
‘‘When he is around us, if something needs to be done he will say ‘we are going to do it this way’.
‘‘In school teams he was always captain, or the main one leading it.
‘‘This is obviously a big responsibility, but he is looking forward to it and has enjoyed it so far in the pre-season.’’
Nigel, 29, was too young to recall much about his father’s playing days but has ‘‘heard all the stories’’.
‘‘The biggest memory for me as a junior was going to Breakers Stadium and watching those guys,’’ Boogaard said.
‘‘For me, Andy Roberts was inspirational. He led from the front and gave everything for the club. He was a big one.
‘‘Going through the years there has been some great captains, even back in the old NSL days.
‘‘This club has great history before the A-League and now with the A-League.
‘‘Hopefully this year we can turn things around and do the town proud.’’
A hothead early in his career, Nigel has been given six straight red cards in 147 A-League games.
Last season he was sent off twice, once for two yellows against Perth in the season opener, and a straight red against the Jets in round five.
‘‘You are always going to get a bit of white line fever with me,’’ he said.
‘‘I obviously have to tone that down a little bit. Being a leader, I don’t want to overstep the mark.’’
Jets coach Scott Miller has the utmost faith in Boogaard and his ability to harness his aggression.
‘‘Where he is maturing, and where I want him to further mature, is his communication style,’’ Miller said.
‘‘I want it less emotional and more directional.’’