Carlton captain Patrick Cripps is eyeing a skipper succession plan just like Collingwood great Scott Pendlebury did.
Pendlebury handed over the captaincy to Darcy Moore ahead of the 2023 season after nine years in the role, but was used to help guide Moore and the new leaders at the Pies.
Cripps has been the Blues skipper since 2019, but has handled the position on his own since 2022, and has flagged a succession plan in the future.
"It's something I still enjoy doing," Cripps said on SEN.
"But I've always been one for captaincy; it's never been about ego decisions. I'll sit down with the club, and I'm sure with Frase and Chris Davies.
"I still really enjoy doing it but also know you don't need to be captain to be a leader. I always take note of previous leaders around other clubs and the way they did it. I really enjoyed what Scott Pendlebury did at the back end of his career.
"I am enjoying it, but I want to be there and be a mentor for the next captain to come through as well, and some of the other young leaders.
"I know I still have a lot of good footy left in me, but from a leadership front, I know I'll still lead no matter if I'm captain or not."
Sam Walsh and Jacob Weitering loom as Cripps' replacement when the two-time Brownlow Medallists opt to step aside from the captaincy.
Walsh is largely believed, given his age and ability to connect with all groups at Ikon Park, the leading candidate to assume the position.
"With Walshy, you've got to see the way he plays," Cripps said.
"He's got this fierce determination to get the best out of himself, but he leads by example. He'll be a great captain of the Carlton footy club. I have zero doubt about that.
"I think we're in a lucky position with him and Weiters (Jacob Weitering). They could easily captain any other club right now. That's the quality of what they bring.
"So for us, and me personally, sometimes some other clubs are like, who is their next captain? For us, it's not really that discussion. It's like, when do you give them the reins?
"So there's definitely that element from an on-field point of view, and off field, what people learn the more you get to know Walshy is his ability to connect with all ages. He's a very social guy; he's got a high level of respect for the way he trains."
