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?
Western Bulldogs
Who could ever replace Marcus Bontempelli?
Well, if the Bulldogs recruiting team gets their way, a man called Zak Butters would be a pretty good option.
Bontempelli certainly isn't one foot out the door captaincy-wise and has a few years at least left at the helm of The Kennel. But if Butters is waiting to take over when that time comes, what a passing of the baton that would be.
If Butters lands at a different Victorian club, key forward and generational talent Sam Darcy seems like an obvious choice.
Or if the Bulldogs want to keep with what they know, how about Joel Freijah AKA Mini Bont?
Freijah would still need a few more seasons in the league, but he is a smooth mover and there is not a better apprenticeship to do than one under Bontempelli.
