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?
Essendon
Andrew McGrath became captain for the 2026 season and arguably has the toughest position in football at the minute.
Leading the club through what Essendon legend Matthew Lloyd recently described as the lowest point in the Bombers' history.
While some have been critical of what McGrath brings as a player, what he has brought as a leader has been impressive in his first year.
The 28-year-old spoke brilliantly after his former coach Brad Scott was sacked mid-season, leaving hospital early after he sustained a jaw injury the weekend prior, to speak to a hungry media pack.
He acted with aplomb and he would be hoping to lead the club through this next tough period.
Waiting in the wings is Sam Durham, who is not only a star midfielder, but a player that conducts himself with a physicality and competitiveness that has been lacking at Essendon for many years.
Once McGrath gets the Bombers through the next couple of years, he should hand the keys, hopefully in fresh air, to Durham who can lead the team back to finals and relevancy.
