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?
Carlton
Whenever Patrick Cripps hands in the keys to the Blues captaincy, it has nearly been written in the stars since he was drafted with pick one in 2018, that Sam Walsh would take over.
Professional, brilliant and reliable. It can be expected that Walsh will become captain from the beloved Cripps with class and poise.
The change could come as early as next season as Carlton, under a new coach, will look to leave its past few years of trouble behind and into a new era of success.
Fellow vice-captain Jacob Weitering could also be an option for the captaincy, but given Walsh is 25, the gun midfielder would be the smart long-term captain the Blues will be expected to anoint.
In the future, once Walsh is done with the role, it is likely that one of young guns Harry Dean or Jagga Smith will take over from him.
