";s:4:"text";s:2936:" Hawthorn have announced Ben Stratton as their captain for 2019, with Jack Gunston his vice captain. If you want to get by in this new colony then you're going to need someone watching your back. Picture: Phil HillyardJarryd Roughead is likely to be replaced by one of Liam Shiels or Isaac Smith. "Stratton has played 169 senior games since being taken with pick 46 in the 2009 draft.The East Perth-product was a member of the club's historic three-peat from 2013-15.https://images.daznservices.com/di/library/sportal_com_au/b2/de/ben-stratton_lycfwire72m0161d1augnewl4.jpg?t=832199865&w=500&quality=80 Roughead led the Hawks for the past two seasons after taking the reins from predecessor Luke Hodge. Hawthorn have announced Ben Stratton as their captain for 2019, with Jack Gunston his vice captain. … Those who know him say he has never sought the limelight and has a strong interest in community outside of footy.As a player, Stratton is renowned for his ability to match-up and negate both talls and mid-sized to small forwards, and for his capacity to read both the the play and to marshal teammates from behind the ball - a trait that is common among many successful skippers, including Luke Hodge and Collingwood's ex-captain Nick Maxwell.Hawthorn continued the club's tradition of appointing a single captain, which Kennett insists upon.The Hawks have won all their 13 premierships with a sole captain since 1961.Jaeger O'Meara, who bears huge responsibility this year in the absence of injured Brownlow medallist Tom Mitchell, was brought into the six-man leadership group - headed by the four captaincy candidates.O'Meara had previously wanted to establish himself in his new club and focus on getting his body right following knee injuries.Wright said the brilliant young midfielder now "feels confident in his body'' and was ready to take on a leadership role.Respected ruckman Ben McEvoy is the other member of the six-man group. This is also known as Online Behavioural Advertising. He's his own man,'' said Wright, who added that Stratton - who has had little exposure to the broader public - would need to do more media in his new role, though he would be supported by fellow leaders.The football department recommendation that Stratton be new skipper was ratified by the Hawthorn's Jeff Kennett-led board on Wednesday night.Stratton, a West Australian originally from Margaret River, was a mature-age draftee in 2009. Good appointment. Wright said the Hawks could still count on decorated veterans Roughead and Shaun Burgoyne to provide leadership, even though they no longer held official positions.The vote of the players reflected the fact the Hawks were not ready to hand the leadership over to a younger player, in the 24-26-year-old group, such as O'Meara. Staff writers and AAP The West Australian.