Melbourne star Max Gawn has declared he has "no real ego" about holding onto the captaincy next year as the Demons enter a new era under Steven King.
Gawn has been the sole skipper since 2020, leading the club to a drought-breaking premiership the following season.
However, after navigating the "oldest club in the land" through some of the highest of highs, and the lowest of lows, the 34-year-old would be happy to step aside if it's in the best interest of the Demons.
"Whatever the club needs ... I have no real ego in having that 'C' next to my name," he said on Thursday following his State of Origin selection.
"If the club feels like it's best to push on in a different way, I'm more than happy to get behind it.
"If they want a bit of continuity, because there's been a lot of change at the football club, I'm happy to get behind that as well.
"I love being captain - it truly is a special role ... being the oldest club in the land."
However, regarding the State of Origin clash against Western Australia, Gawn would love to see GWS skipper Toby Greene lead, while multiple other candidates immediately sprang to mind.
"The players have been wanting this for a while. Probably for the last five or six years in AFLPA catchups, it's been a topic that's been brought up by the players in particular," Gawn said.
"I'd love to be led by Toby Greene - imagine getting behind Toby Greene for a State of Origin?" Gawn said of the firebrand GWS captain.
"That's a trigger I'd pull, but I also understand that we have probably the best captain in the comp, in Bont (the Bulldogs' Marcus Bontempelli).
"There's a premiership captain not in the squad yet, in (Collingwood's) Darcy Moore."
Gawn also said that he'd love to pull on the Big V with former teammates Christian Petracca and Clayton Oliver, who were both traded to Gold Coast and GWS respectively.
The clash between the two states is set for February 14 at Optus Stadium.
