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?
North Melbourne
The next decade of the Roos' plans for captains appears to be set in stone.
Key forward Larkey took over from Jy Simpkin this year, and while he has struggled with form, his leadership has shone through in the club's best season since 2019.
He speaks well and has plenty of years left in the tank at 28.
His next in line is prodigal son Harry Sheezel who will likely lead the club for a decade once he takes the reins from Larkey.
So who will be Sheezel's right hand men during his time as captain?
Fellow top draftee George Wardlaw is the perfect example of someone who leads by his actions and will be the perfect vice-captain for the Kangaroos in the future as long as he gets his body right.
Key defender Charlie Comben is another who plays on the edge and at 24, will hopefully continue to grow his leadership capacity on and off the field.
