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.
Fremantle
Caleb Serong
Alex Pearce has captained the Dockers for the last three years and looks set to continue as captain in season 2026. He will turn 32 next year.
It was somewhat of a surprise when the Dockers named Pearce as their captain in 2023, with many people believing Caleb Serong was the man to take over from Nat Fyfe. Internally, the Dockers may have believed it was too much responsibility for a young Serong who was just 22 at the time.
Now a premier midfielder of the competition at 25, Serong is the man to take Fremantle forward after Pearce steps down. His tenacious style of play, incredible consistency and ability to step up when the heat is on make him an easy choice.
