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?
Geelong
Patrick Dangerfield has been a terrific captain at Geelong, but with the star nearing the end of his career at 36, who will take his mantle whenever Dangerfield calls time?
Tom Stewart seems an obvious choice, but he will be 34 next year and in a similar position to Dangerfield, so perhaps the Cats should take a punt on midfielder Max Holmes.
He is a certified star of the game and one of the hardest workers at the Cattery.
Next season Holmes will turn 25 so will be in the sweet spot for a player ready to take on the leadership reins.
However, there is talk at Geelong that young key defender Connor O'Sullivan is a captain in waiting.
He is only in his third season at AFL level but is already one for the best key defenders in the game.
The Cats may follow their own blueprint in appointing an impressive young gun to captaincy like they did with Joel Selwood in 2012 in just his sixth season.
Perhaps Dangerfield will stay on as captain for the next year or two and allow O'Sullivan to develop as a player and leader before passing the baton to the young gun at the end of his fifth season just like Cameron Ling did with Selwood.
