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.
Brisbane
Will Ashcroft
Current captains Harris Andrews and Lachie Neale have been incredible servants, co-captaining the Lions to successive premierships in 2024 and 2025. They look set to lead the Lions again in 2026 as they shoot for a three-peat. While Neale is set to turn 33 in 2026 and appears to be in the later stages of his career, Andrews is only 28 and could lead the Lions for years to come.
Next in line to lead the Lions is Will Ashcroft. He has an incredible regime at just 21 years old, but it's his maturity, professionalism and ability to deliver consistently in big moments that make him the ideal candidate. A two-time Norm Smith medallist, Ashcroft appears the obvious choice.
He captained Sandringham and Vic Metro to premierships in his under-18 year, while also being named captain of the U18 All-Australian team.
Ashcroft may be set to lead alongside Andrews if the Lions choose to opt for a co-captaincy model post-Neale, although Ashcroft looks incredibly well-equipped to take the reins himself at some stage.
