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.
Essendon
Andrew McGrath
Essendon announced Zach Merrett would stand down as captain after a turbulent 2025 off-season, paving the way for a fresh face to take charge at Tullamarine.
There are a host of names that could captain Bombers in 2026, but former first-round draft pick Andrew McGrath looms as the most likely. McGrath has been a part of the club's leadership group since 2021. He has long been viewed internally as a potential captain of the club, with the club rating his leadership qualities highly when drafting him in 2016.
After delisting and trading a host of experienced players in the off-season, including Todd Goldstein, Sam Draper, Dylan Shiel and Jayden Laverde, the Bombers are again set to name a young team in 2026 after fielding 15 debutants in 2025.
McGrath has a team-first and competitive attitude whose professionalism and consistency make him ideal to lead a young group desperate for stability.
