The 2024 pre-season football camp culminated with the Toronto Dingos coaches announcing the leadership team for the upcoming AFLO season, with Mike Bocian set to lead the team for a sixth straight year.
Assisting Bocian in the leadership duties are first-time leaders and second-year Dingos, Matteo Lugarini & Brad Wooten.
The coaching group announced the leadership group at the recent preseason training camp in London Ontario, with this year's leaders already setting the standards during the preseason and primed take the Dingos one step further.
Coach & President Justin Robertson talked through what makes Bocian the perfect leader to take this group of players forward in 2024.
"Mikey has been part of the Dingos fabric for almost a decade now. First as a new Canadian learning the game. And then as a leader. He has all the traits of what we’d expect of a captain and a leader: leads by example on the field, rarely misses training and is one of the first blokes to a Dingos social event,” said Dingos president Justin Robertson. “It’s because of his dedication to the sport over a long period of time he’s earned the respect of the football club and he’s a much-loved Dingos person."
Despite being only in his second season at the Dingos, new vice-captain Brad "Woots" Wooten brings a wealth of footballing knowledge from his time playing back in NSW Australia. When talking at his mate, assistant coach CJ said, "Woots has made a huge impact on the Dingos despite only a short time at the club. His experience, leadership and high standards will be vital in our 2024 campaign."
After an amazing debut season where he captured both the AFLO & Toronto Dingos ROTY award, AFLO Team of the Year selection and the club Best & Fairest Award, Matteo has been honoured with the vice-captaincy. Assistant coach Ben Sinclair summed up the selection saying,"Matteo’s outstanding on field ability and leadership in 2023 meant we couldn’t overlook him for a leadership role on 2024."
This upcoming season will mark Bocian’s sixth year as Dingos captain which is the equal second-best tenure in that role, sharing that with Chris Cunning who led the club from 1996-2001. Dingos legend and Hall of Famer Craig Stewart has the most years as Dingos captain at eight, serving in that role between 2003 and 2009 and also in 2012. The Dingos have had nine captains since 1996.