Leadership at every AFL club is different. Some teams go for a solo captain, while another decides three co-captains is best. Some teams pick their best player to lead, while others believes a trusty stalwart galvanises the group more.
However each organisation does it, like the Flying Dutchmen in Pirates of the Caribbean, every crew and ship needs a captain. And there are some mighty fine captains in the AFL.
The pinnacle is Melbourne's Max Gawn who has led his club with honour during the good times and the bad, of which there have been plenty of both.
Newcomers such as Essendon's Andrew McGrath and North Melbourne's Nick Larkey are learning how tough the job can be this season.
While two-time reigning premiers Brisbane decided to move from two co-captains to a trio in 2026 with Harris Andrews, Hugh McCluggage and Josh Dunkley leading the charge.
But who are the next cabs of the rank at your club in terms of players that are captain material?
Hawthorn
Midfielder Jai Newcombe was elevated to co-captaincy status alongside the fiery James Sicily this season.
It's a great story arc given Newcombe was picked up as one of the early mid-season draftees before turning himself into one of the league's premier midfielders.
While Newcombe, 24, has plenty of time to captain the Hawks, Sicily at 31 could be looking to relieve himself of the responsibility of captaincy and focus on making the most out of his career in its latter stages.
So if the Hawks want to maintain their co-captaincy position, who are their options? Two spring to mind. Both a gamble for separate reasons.
Will Day is a star that has been luckless on the injury front. He seems like a natural leader and could be the ice to Newcombe's fire à la Blades of Glory duo Chaz "Michael" Michaels and Jimmy MacElroy.
But Hawthorn should investigate a similar avenue as to what the Giants did with Toby Greene and look at oxymoron bad boy-football nerd Jack Ginnivan.
Previously, the thought of Ginnivan as captain of an AFL club would have seemed far fetched, but the quality of his football brain is well known, he has become a consistent performer, he is well loved at the Hawks and has grown in maturity in the past few seasons.
Could be a wildcard leadership option that pays dividends for a Hawks side not afraid to mix things up.
