A man and his dog were at Newlands on Wednesday afternoon but not to make up the proverbial crowd that usually attends domestic first-class matches here. The man was Faf du Plessis, who was making his first appearance as the new permanent Test captain. The dog was Giorgio, his nine-year old dachshund, who had a back operation earlier this year after becoming temporarily paralysed and now has his hind legs in a harness.Together they walked the outfield that is now du Plessis domain; the outfield on which South Africas captaincy conundrum has come full circle.It was on this ground that Hashim Amla announced he would not continue to captain, opening the door for AB de Villiers to do the job he always wanted. It was also on this ground that du Plessis, standing in for an injured de Villiers, led South Africa in completing a 5-nil ODI series whitewash over Australia to begin the conversation over whether the leadership role needed to be looked at again. And it was on this ground last Thursday that du Plessis played for the national cricket side against the national rugby side and afterwards found out that de Villiers had made the decision to give up the captaincy before anyone else could make it for him.I got the call just after the Proteas game against the Boks that AB is going to stand down for the Test matches, du Plessis said. I spoke to him that evening and I phoned him the next day just to make sure. My policy will always be one of being really honest, so it was just speaking as friends would do about going forward.De Villiers decision came on the back of his own injury problems. He has not yet recovered from an elbow problem and hasnt played for South Africa in almost six months, since their triangular series in the Caribbean. In that time the team have found the drive they lacked last summer and they have started winning again. It is obvious that they have got a good thing going and de Villiers did not want to stand in the way of that developing.AB has been amazing, du Plessis said. He has always been a guy that puts the team first, as youve seen by his making this decision. To be part of something like that says a lot about our culture but also shows a lot about AB as a person and how he values the team above himself. Du Plessis stressed that having his old schoolmates backing is the crucial to his captaincy. Thats something he said to me, that he will always be there no matter what and he will always back me. It was great to hear that from him. I got a call from Hashim as well, to say well done. Hashim passed it on to AB and then AB passed it on to me.While Amla has completely relinquished armbands of any description - except when leading du Plessis defense against ball-tampering - de Villiers remains in charge in some capacity. He is the ODI captain and should return to that role mid-January, when South Africa play Sri Lanka as they start their planning for Junes ICC event. Du Plessis has promised to offer him reciprocal commitment. AB is still captain in ODIs and I am really excited about that because he wants to win that Champions Trophy and I will be completely behind him, du Plessis said.Little else could be expected from two men who knew each other before the world knew either of them, more than two decades ago. To outsiders its a bromance between school-friends turned international team-mates but to South Africa, it means adjusting between captains. Split leadership was in vogue a few years ago but more recent thinking - including Graeme Smiths appreciation for streamlining the captaincy - has suggested it could be a curveball. Du Plessis played that down, saying the only difference between de Villiers and him is that his friend is the brightest star in South Africas sporting sky while du Plessis is just one of the troops - albeit one who has the teams buy-in. AB leads from performance - he is a guy that every time he steps onto the field, you want to be better as a player because he is that good. He is a freak when it comes to cricket. He always puts himself out there and he gives 150%, so its easy for a team to follow that, du Plessis said. My style is a little bit different to that. I am not as good as AB is, so I have to rely on other qualities. I try and challenge a team as much as I can. For me its harder work, I suppose.But its also work that du Plessis loves. He has long said captaincy brings out the best in him and he has proved it with two hundreds in five Tests as stand-in captain. The longest format is his first love and leading in it gives him his greatest joy.Being a Test captain is almost the first time when people really take you seriously. T20 is like fun, the X-factor of cricket. Test cricket is, for me the most enjoyable time to be a captain because you have to work on plans for a long period of time, you have to strategise how you are going to get guys out and continuously challenge guys over a long period of time, du Plessis said. Its a huge honour and I will be taking it very seriously.Just at that moment, things became completely un-serious. Giorgio grew restless, shifted between the cameras and the reporters, wandered towards the pitch and eventually sat at du Plessis feet, looking up with puppy eyes and whimpering. His wish was du Plessis command. Mid-interview, Giorgio was lifted off the floor and cuddled. Between this man and his dog, theres no doubt who the real boss is. Wholesale Nike Roshe Shoes . 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Sandringham Dragons won a gripping TAC Cup grand final by 17 points against Murray Bushrangers at Etihad Stadium, but there was just as much interest, if not more, on the possible draftees on display.In what was a sometimes scrappy but certainly pressure-filled contest, several high-end chances shone, including Andrew McGrath, Jack Scrimshaw and Will Brodie.Others also put their name firmly in front of AFL recruiters eyes - GWS Academy prospect Zach Sproule was superb for the Bushrangers, Hamish Brayshaw (brother of Melbournes Angus) was industrious for the Dragons.So, with draft approaching, what did we learn from this years TAC Cup decider?Essendon recruiters have a tough decision on their handsThe footy industry assumes the Bombers have already made up their mind to use their No. 1 pick on dynamic North Ballarat midfielder Hugh McCluggage. But Essendons recruiters will have a lot more to consider after the performances of Andrew McGrath and Will Brodie, who were fantastic for the Dragons and Bushies respectively.McGrath was adjudged best on ground after a scintillating game through the midfield and half-back, winning 38 disposals and eight clearances. He was especially enormous in the second half, racking up possessions and sparking his teammates. He takes the game on and makes things happen, and played a huge part in the Dragons overpowering their rivals.Brodie also looks the real deal. He displayed a brutal hunger for the contest, an ability to work his way around the ground, excellent cleanness with ball in hand and a willingness to hunt opponents with strong tackles. He was forced off the field for five or so minutes in the first quarter after smashing into an umpire but recovered to play a key role as Murray pushed their opponents all the way.Whichever way Essendon eventually leans with their prized first pick, Brisbane and Fremantle will be licking their lips at the thought of one of McGrath or Brodie falling their way.Theres no end in sight for the GWS Academy talent factory Seventeen AFL clubs are already worried about the vast riches at GWS - despite their loss to the Bulldogs in Saturdays preliminary final - and those feelings of unease would have intensified after Sundays contest.Unheralded Bushrangers tall Zach Sproule added his name to the list of exciting talents the Giants hold claims to, zipping around Etihad Stadium to be just about best afield for Murray.Medium forward Lachlan Tiziani also showed glimpses for the Bushies, winning the ball in the air and at ground level, although he missed several golden oppoortunities in front of goal.ddddddddddddWith Academy prospects Harry Perryman and Will Setterfield likely first-round picks, Harrison Macreadie a possible second rounder, and Tiziani and Kobe Mutch also extremely draftable, the Giants talent pathway is overflowing.Todd Marshall is far from the finished productMarshall, who is expected to be the first key forward selected in this years national draft, had a dirty day against Sandringham. The lightly framed 197cm forward failed to impose himself on the contest, struggling at times to compete with the required intensity.During the second quarter, he completely failed to connect with a simple handball that would have allowed the Bushies to stream into goal; as a result the ball went straight up the other end. Marshall does not play like a traditional tall forward - hes not a pack crasher or big goalkicker, although hes fantastic at ground level for such a tall player.He did produce one moment of magic, kicking the first goal of the fourth term - picking the ball up cleanly and snapping truly under pressure. He has a stack of potential, but AFL clubs will be questioning where Marshall sits in the draft order after Sundays performance.Jack Scrimshaw has some elite AFL attributesThe rangy Dragons utility was possibly the best ball user on display at Etihad Stadium on Sunday, hitting up targets with low, powerful drop punts. He is so smart, finds time and space in congestion, knows his angles, and regularly cut off Murray attacks in the first half.Scrimshaw was moved forward in the second half and still impacted the contest, showing his versatility. He also stood up at crucial moments - taking a strong contested mark in the third term, which set up a steadying goal to Hamish Brayshaw. His quality snap goal midway through the last quarter put the Dragons ahead. His standing as a likely first-round pick would have been solidified after Sunday.Despite an almost game, Esava Ratugolea could be a draft smokyThe grand final wasnt the athletic ruck-forward from Murrays best game, but the traits he showcased - deft ruckwork, excellent vertical leap and strong follow-up around the contest - showed he could reward any club that takes a chance and develops him.Midway through the fourth quarter, he took a brilliant pack mark with the Bushies down by a goal, but missed the set shot. Theres plenty of kinks to iron out but he could become more than a handy tall at AFL level. 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