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.
Collingwood
Nick Daicos
Darcy Moore has led Collingwood since the beginning of 2023, leading them to a premiership in his first year as captain. He looks set to continue as club captain in 2026 and is only 29.
It will only be a matter of time before Nick Daicos is named captain of Collingwood. Daicos has put together arguably the best start to an AFL career ever, boasting an incredible list of accolades after just four years in the AFL. He is a three-time All-Australian and finished in the top three in the Brownlow in each of the last three years.
Daicos has considerable leadership experience. He captained the Oakleigh Chargers as an 18-year-old and was named vice-captain of the Magpies in 2025. Daicos became Collingwood's youngest captain in 57 years when he took charge on Anzac Day this year, with Moore missing through injury.
His professionalism and strong work ethic are traits that see the son-of-a-gun earmarked as Collingwood's next captain.
