Lions announce trio of captains following Lachie Neale abdication

The Brisbane Lions have announced they will boast three co-captains for the 2026 season, promoting Josh Dunkley and Hugh McCluggage to join Harris Andrews in the role.

The decision comes after Lachie Neale decided to step down from his position as captain following his marriage's public break up.

The midfield pair had been vice-captains under Andrews and Neale since the club's 2023 leadership group shake-up.

The Lions full eight-man leadership group consists of Jarrod Berry, Cam Rayner, Jaspa Fletcher, Will Ashcroft and off-season recruit Oscar Allen.

The decision has sparked intrigue, given no other club has named more than two co-captains ahead of 2026, but senior coach Chris Fagan said the club saw it as a logical decision.

“It was quite unique to have three guys that are more than capable of being great captains at your one club at the one time,” Fagan said.

“If you have three good people than why not have three captains? For us, leadership is a teamwork thing, so to have three captains reinforces that philosophy and we work really hard to build leadership density at our footy club.

“These three are our best trademark players, they are fine young men, they are different personalities, so they bring different strengths to the table.”

Considering McCluggage and Dunkley's paramount roles to the Lions' premiership defence in 2025, their respective selections as captain makes perfect sense as the maroon, blue and gold outfit attempt to achieve an elusive three-peat this year.

McCluggage was finally rewarded with an All-Australian blazer in 2025 and it was obvious to see why. His 27.1 disposals, 6.0 clearances and 7.2 score involvements per game just scratch the surface of his measurable impact.

Dunkley's importance in the Lions' back-to-back premierships is often underrated, but in 2025, AFL fans began to recognise just how valuable he is in his dynamic defensive midfield role, shutting down some of the game's greats as a tagger or doing the dirty work in the heat of the contest.

Fagan offered a similar sentiment on the 27- and 29-year-olds.

“Hugh's growth from the quiet young Vic country lad that he was when he first turned up to the club to now has been exceptional,” Fagan said.

“He isn't a loud leader, but he is a leader by example and has incredible emotional intelligence, so if I want a read on the group he will give me the best read that I can get.

“Dunks is impatient for results but also a very encouraging guy. He is incredibly honest, disarmingly so at times, if he has something on his mind. He will be the first to walk into my office and just tell me.

“And look at the way he plays, he is a rare beast that tries every bit as hard on defence as he does on offence. If there's ever a man who would do a job for the team it is him.”

Andrews will now enter his fourth season as co-captain and will look to make his fourth consecutive Grand Final since taking on the responsibility.

He's the undisputed best defender in the country, claiming a third All-Australian blazer and second premiership medallion in 2025, while ranking top two in the league for marks and intercept marks. He also led the league in kicking efficiency, with 89 per cent of his 10.5 kicks per game hitting a target.

“Harris is a champion player to start with and a champion bloke who is so enormously respected by his teammates and is a two-time premiership captain for a reason," Fagan said.

“He cares deeply about the team, in games he steps up in the big moments, is a total professional, has a growth mindset and is a great man for the community - so he just ticks so many boxes.”