With leadership change looming at some clubs and long-term planning underway at others, we forecast who's next in line to captain each club in 2026 or beyond.
Some clubs have laid a solid leadership foundation as they enter, or remain in, the premiership window, while others will look to re-shuffle their leadership as they prepare to build their next premiership team.
Melbourne
Trent Rivers
Veteran ruck Max Gawn has captained the Dees since 2020, leading the club to a drought-breaking premiership win in 2021. The eight-time All-Australian has done a superb job in charge, but at 33, change looms. With the departure of Christian Petracca and Jack Viney entering the twilight of his career, there looks to be no obvious successor.
Trent Rivers is a player the Dees could look to. The Demons look unlikely to challenge for a premiership in the near future, and therefore may look to a player they could build a premiership list around.
Set to turn just 25 next season, Rivers fits the age profile nicely. A composed, dependable defender capable of playing through the midfield, Rivers has become one of Melbourne's most trusted players behind the ball. He was also described as a natural leader during his draft year.
