MICHAEL Rischitelli says his hardline leadership approach in recent weeks has been driven by his ambitions for the Suns and not personal designs on the captaincy.

Rischitelli has become embarrassed at the publicity he has generated for his stance to stamp out cultural problems within elements of the playing group.

He has also expressed his angst at the pressure that has mounted on skipper Gary Ablett, whose leadership credentials have come under fire.

Former Melbourne captain Gary Lyon said on a Melbourne TV show on Thursday night that Ablett should not be captain.

Lyon said it was “Rischitelli who “put his foot down’’.

media_camera Coach Rodney Eade chats with Harley Bennell. Picture: Colleen Petch

“They need strong, directive leadership right at the top, and I don’t think Gary has been able to display that,’’ he said.

But Rischitelli insists Ablett remains the leader of the club and said his own duties were just a temporary match-day arrangement.

“What has happened over the last week is solely about doing what is right for our football club,’’ he said.

“I’m standing in as captain while Gary is out injured, that’s all.

“He (Ablett) and the rest of the leadership group have been driving our standards for some time and he has been as vocal as anyone in driving our values.’’

Rischitelli won the eternal support of the football department in the early years when he battled through two seasons of chronic hamstring tendonitis, when he was unfit to play, to provide a big body and cool head in support of the club’s younger players.

He is a quietly spoken family man who is not a regular at social gatherings.

He can be blunt but has managed to elevate himself in the eyes of his peers with his passionate leadership style.

He was a central figure in driving a player honesty session last week that led to the Suns’ first win of the season against the Lions.

Several egos were left bruised.

He also attended a media briefing during the week that also included CEO Andrew Travis, coach Rodney Eade and football manager Marcus Ashcroft where it was revealed Harley Bennell, Trent McKenzie and Brandon Matera would be stood down.

In that meeting he revealed his unease at how some unprofessional practices had become common place and admitted it took him a while to find his voice because he was still a young player himself when he arrived at the Suns.

Ablett was offered the opportunity to attend the meeting but abdicated the responsibility to Rischitelli.

Suns officials are empathetic that it is the first serious injury of his career and have given him space to focus on his recovery.

But Lyon said his absence spoke volumes about his leadership shortcomings.

“This club needs a strong visible leader and Gary Ablett is not that,’’ he said.

“He hasn’t been that.

“He has been absent throughout the upheaval over the past couple of weeks.’’

Originally published as Team not captaincy drives Rischitelli