Gold Coast coach Stewart Dew has heavily endorsed 22-year old Touk Miller becoming the club's next captain despite his age and inexperience.
The young midfielder is one of the frontrunners to fill the vacant Suns skipper position along with David Swallow, Jarrod Witts and Pearce Hanley, having lost both co-captains in Tom Lynch and Steven May during last year's trade period.
Gold Coast is one of three clubs yet to confirm its next captain, along with Hawthorn and Port Adelaide, but has a firm idea of when the decision will be made.
The Suns are expected to unveil their leadership group within the next week, before confirming their skipper prior to their first JLT Community Series clash on March 3.
Dew discussed how a player's age was not going to disadvantage his prospects as skipper.
"If they're ready, they're ready," Dew told AFL.com.au.
"Whoever it is, they're going to need some support from the playing group and the rest of the leaders. But you look at guys like Trent Cotchin. He was a young captain and now he's grown into arguably one of the best captains in the league.
"Whoever it is, they will get their first crack at it and I think it's going to be important that we support them."
Miller is out of contract going into next season, contrasting Swallow and Witts who have both recently recommitted to the club on long-term deals.
And despite losing their last three captains to rival clubs, Dew stated a player's contract situation would also not factor into the club's decision.
"Not at all, there would be no hesitation with Touk."
Dew added that co-captains was still a possibility and would not not be shocked to see one of the club's new recruits, Anthony Miles or George Horlin-Smith, be voted into the leadership group.
"The fact that the players pick that, with how they've gone about it, it will be interesting to see if they get acknowledged in some way," Dew said.
"It's certainly not out of the question, because they've come from respectable organisations."
