Predicting every AFL team's next captain

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. Adelaide Max Michalanney The Crows look as if they have an established leadership group for the next few years as they enter the premiership window. Since arriving from Sydney at the end of 2021, Jordan Dawson has led the young Crows superbly since taking over from Rory Sloane in 2023. Alongside his leadership group of Darcy Fogarty, Ben Keays, Alex Neal-Bullen and Reilly O'Brien, Dawson looks the man to take the Crows to their next premiership. When Dawson's time as captain comes to an end, young defender Max Michalanney looks the obvious choice to lead the Crows. Calm, composed and competitive, Michalanney is a ready-made leader. After taking him at Pick 17 in the 2022 Draft as a father-son selection, he has missed just a handful of matches through injury. Michalanney's hard-nosed style of play, composure in big moments and ability to play important roles for Matthew Nicks make him the perfect candidate to become the Adelaide Crows' 10th captain. http://gty.im/2222699908 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. http://gty.im/2237663445 Carlton Sam Walsh Current captain Patrick Cripps has done an admirable job leading Carlton. A two-time Brownlow medallist and four-time All-Australian, Cripps has done it all individually. However, with Carlton's poor on-field performance in 2025 and Cripps set to turn 31 in 2026, the club may opt for a fresh face to lead the club in the next few years. Sam Walsh appears to be Cripps' successor. A highly touted leader throughout his junior football career, Walsh has been a member of Carlton's leadership group for the last six years. He was first included in their leadership group in 2020 aged just 19. Walsh, now 25, looks primed to take on more responsibility in the coming years. He has endured an ordinary run with injury across the past 12 months after taking the competition by storm in his first four years. You get the feeling Walsh may explode in 2026 with a full pre-season and is the type of player who will thrive with added leadership responsibility. http://gty.im/2230368302 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. http://gty.im/2228163664 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. http://gty.im/2230247653 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. http://gty.im/2228440312 Geelong Max Holmes Patrick Dangerfield has captained the Cats since Joel Selwood retired after the club's 2022 premiership triumph. It will be intriguing to see what the Cats do with their leadership group in 2026. Dangerfield turns 36 and may be rested at times throughout the season to protect his ageing body. The Cats might look to a new captain, allowing Dangerfield to focus on looking after his body as he enters his 18th season. If they do opt for a new-look leadership group, Max Holmes could be the man to lead it. The dashing half-back turned midfielder has enjoyed a stellar run of form across 2024 and 2025, winning back-to-back best and fairests. A proven finals performer, Holmes has evolved into one of Geelong's most dependable players. This, combined with an elite work-rate, sees him primed to captain Geelong at some point. http://gty.im/2237652668 Gold Coast: Zeke Uwland Noah Anderson was appointed captain of the Suns at the beginning of the 2025 season. He thrived with the added responsibility, enjoying a career-best season where he won the AFLCA Champion Player and led the Suns to their first-ever finals appearance. The Suns have found a long-term captain in Anderson as they enter the premiership window. When the time comes, Zeke Uwland could be the man who takes over from Anderson. Uwland, the brother of Suns teammate Bodhi, was snapped up by the Suns at Pick 2 in last month's draft. The skilful utility has been praised for his professionalism, leadership and dedication to training and study. After a back injury wiped out most of his draft year, Uwland served as a midfield coach for his Suns Academy teammates, helping them understand the team's structure. It was here Uwland learnt how to alter his feedback for different individuals. The well-spoken 18-year-old is mature beyond his years, balancing training commitments with a law degree. These traits make Uwland an exciting on and off-field prospect for the Suns and position him as a potential future captain. http://gty.im/2247422909 GWS Tom Green Toby Greene has captained the Giants since 2022 and looks set to continue in the role in 2026. He has taken the Giants to September football in each of the last three years. Greene turns 33 next season, so the Giants will begin thinking about who his successor will be. The most likely option is star midfielder Tom Green. After being drafted by the Giants in 2019 as an Academy prospect, Green has emerged as one of the competition's best inside midfielders. Green is a widely respected figure internally at the Giants and was first introduced as a member of the Giants' leadership in 2023 as a 22-year-old. He was a highly touted leader as a junior, captaining the Allies at the U18s National Championships in his draft year. His desperation at the contest and his ability to stand up in big finals games early in his career are qualities that underline his leadership pedigree. Given Greene's age and the likelihood that the Giants will soon be on the hunt for a new captain, Green shapes as the logical long-term successor. http://gty.im/2214474724 Hawthorn Jai Newcombe James Sicily has captained the Hawks for the past three seasons. He has led the club superbly, reaching the finals in 2024 and 2025 after a 16th-place finish in 2023. Turning 31 next year, Sicily will likely lead the Hawks again in 2026 as they push to go one better and reach the last day in September. When the Hawks choose to move on from Sicily, it is becoming increasingly likely Jai Newcombe could be the heir apparent. Newcombe has been one of the success stories of the Mid-Season Draft, playing 102 matches since being drafted in June 2021. He has quickly become one of the best young midfielders in the competition and has earned more than 60 coaches' votes in each of his past three seasons. The way Newcombe plays reflects the hallmarks of a great leader. Tough, team-first and reliable, Newcombe's ferocious attack on the contest is inspiring. Furthermore, he has established himself as one of the AFL's best finals players. In five finals, Newcombe has averaged 29.3 disposals and recorded 33 coaches. http://gty.im/2235452574 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. http://gty.im/2158972129 North Melbourne Harry Sheezel After serving as co-captain alongside Luke McDonald since 2023, Jy Simpkin was the sole captain in 2025. It will be interesting to see whether North Melbourne turns to new leadership for 2026 after Simpkin's failed trade attempt, combined with the Roos' poor 2025 on-field performance. After an extraordinary start to his AFL career, Harry Sheezel looks the likely replacement for Simpkin when the time comes. And it could come as early as 2026. Already a two-time best and fairest winner, Sheezel is the ultimate professional. He was included in the Roos' leadership group in just his second year and was named the vice-captain the following year. He is highly respected internally, renowned for his unwavering commitment to setting standards on and off the field. After a turbulent 2025 for the Roos, Sheezel shapes as the ideal player to build their list around. http://gty.im/2231594611 Port Adelaide Jason Horne-Francis Port Adelaide looks to have found a long-term captain in Connor Rozee. Rozee, who has been the captain since 2024, will lead the club again as they begin a new era under Josh Carr. With Rozee just 25, the Power won't be on the hunt for a new skipper in the near future. But when the time comes, Jason Horne-Francis could be their man. Horne-Francis has divided the football world at times. He requested a trade out of North Melbourne after just his first year, while he has been caught up in a spate of on-field incidents early in his career as well. But there is simply no doubting the way Horne-Francis plays the game. Hard-nosed, courageous and passionate, his style of play is similar to some of the greatest leaders our game has seen. Horne-Francis is the type of player that teammates love following into battle. http://gty.im/2213144197 Richmond Tim Taranto Toby Nankervis has captained the Tigers for the last four years. Turning 32 next season, the Tigers may have a new captain as early as 2026. If Nankervis were to pass the mantle next season, Tim Taranto shapes as the logical successor. At 27, his age profile aligns perfectly with Richmond's young list. With the Tigers leaning heavily into the draft in recent years, having a captain who can connect with and guide young talent is crucial. Taranto's contested and competitive brand reflects that of a leader, while his elite off-field standards have been lauded by coach Adem Yze. These traits position him perfectly to guide the Tigers' developing list through a rebuild period. http://gty.im/2228400963 St Kilda Callum Wilkie 2025 captain Jack Steele was traded to Melbourne late in this year's trade period in a move that very few saw coming. As a result, the Saints will be looking for a new captain as 2026 edges closer. Callum Wilkie has been a part of the Saints' leadership group since 2021 and looks likely to take the reins after Steele's departure to the Demons. The 29-year-old has fast become one of the competition's best lockdown defenders after being drafted as a 22-year-old rookie out of North Adelaide. The no-fuss defender is as consistent and reliable as ever. He has not missed a match since his debut in Round 1 of 2019, proving he has the durability and professionalism required of a club captain. http://gty.im/2221936207 Sydney Errol Gulden Callum Mills has captained the Swans since 2022. Despite suffering a number of injury setbacks, the Swans have played finals footy in three of the four years since he began as captain. At just 28, Mills looks likely to captain the Swans in 2026 and beyond. When the time comes for Mills to step down, Gulden looks like a viable option to take the club forward. Drafted at Pick 32 in the 2020 Draft, the hard-running left footer has enjoyed a stellar start to his career, barring an injury-interrupted 2025. He was named in the All-Australian team as a 21-year-old. Gulden's exceptional work-rate, consistency and professionalism make him the obvious choice to captain the Swans when Mills' time comes. He is highly regarded internally for his attention to detail in preparing, training and performing on game day. These qualities suggest Gulden is a ready-made option to lead Sydney when the time comes. http://gty.im/2225927301 West Coast Reuben Ginbey West Coast may look to change the dynamic of its leadership group after the departure of co-captain Oscar Allen to the Lions. Allen had acted as co-captain of the club alongside Liam Duggan since the beginning of 2024. Duggan, who will only be 29 next season, could become sole captain of the club or co-captain alongside one of the Eagles' few experienced heads, such as Liam Baker or Jack Graham. However, the Eagles are a long way from their next premiership and may turn to a player who could be part of their next premiership side. Reuben Ginbey is a player who exudes leadership. Courageous, reliable and regularly tasked with defending the opposition's best players, Ginbey has already shown he has the temperament of a future captain. With a natural competitive instinct, Ginbey is a player the Eagles could build around for the next 10 years. http://gty.im/2229790639 Western Bulldogs Sam Darcy Marcus Bontempelli has captained the Bulldogs for the last six seasons. A natural leader, Bontempelli was named the All-Australian captain in 2024 and vice-captain in 2023 and 2021. At just 30, he looks likely to lead the Bulldogs into the future. When Bontempelli steps down, Sam Darcy could be the man to take charge. The rangy key forward has taken the competition by storm over the past two seasons, announcing himself as one of the best young talents in the competition. Standing at 208cm, his aerial dominance and willingness to put his body on the line command respect from teammates. Darcy strikes you as one in the Nick Riewoldt mould - a player that leads by example on the field. Courageous, passionate and consistent, Darcy has the traits of a future leader. Furthermore, Darcy is also a professional off the field. The young forward has overcome several serious injuries, including a fractured knee this year. He missed just six matches after it was feared he may miss the season, returning straight to the AFL team and booting three goals. http://gty.im/2229344082

		P	W	L	PTS	%
1	SYD	1	1	0	4	191.3
2	GC	1	1	0	4	181.2
3	GWS	1	1	0	4	128.4
4	COLL	1	1	0	4	118.2
5	WB	1	1	0	4	104.7
6	BL	1	0	1	0	95.5
7	STK	1	0	1	0	84.6
8	HAW	1	0	1	0	77.9
9	GEEL	1	0	1	0	55.2
10	CARL	1	0	1	0	52.3

Predicting every AFL team’s next captain

With preparation already underway for the 2026 season, we take a look at who is next in line to captain your club.

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