In December of 2022, Collingwood's longest serving captain shocked the AFL world by choosing to step down from his leadership role, graciously handing over the reins of captaincy to a star 27-year-old defender.
Scott Pendlebury's decision arguably set up Collingwood's dominance the following season, continuing his high-level of on-field performance without the off-field expectations on his shoulders, while the fresh voice of Darcy Moore guided the league's biggest club to a famous premiership.
It's a move that could be replicated by the Magpies' fiercest rivals, with Carlton looking to rebound from a disasturous 2025 campaign just 24 months on from being four quarters away from playing those said Magpies in the 2023 Grand Final.
While Patrick Cripps is the personification of leadership, and nobody at Princes Park would suggest otherwise, a year below his lofty standards suggests it might be the right time for him to pass on the role as captain in order to maximise the remainder of his career's on-field success, especially as he enters the 2026 season on the wrong side of 30.
Cripps' numbers dipped in 2025 as the toll of responsibility seemingly caught up with the dual Brownlow medallist, averaging 24.2 disposals per game, while being involved in just 25 per cent of all Carlton scores.
Those are elite figures for most AFL players, but for Cripps, he hasn't averaged that few disposals since 2021, nor contributed to fewer than 28 per cent of Carlton's scores since 2020 - a year where the Blues won just seven out 17 games.
Therefore, a changing of the guard may be the best decision for the Baggers moving forward.
The question now is which current vice-captain Cripps passes the captaincy baton on to; Jacob Weitering or Sam Walsh.
The answer is relatively obvious, however, once the stakes are considered.
Walsh is one of the few A-list players in the 2026 free agency class, meaning several rival clubs will be lining up significant offers for his services.
Walsh has been rumoured to depart for some time now, with the likes of Geelong, St Kilda and Hawthorn all previously showing strong interest in acquiring his talents.
However, only the Blues can provide the ultimate leadership role to progress Walsh's career in that sense, something that the 25-year-old will likely be extremely keen to take on.
Walsh was a highly touted leader throughout his junior football career and 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.
Now, at 25, the star midfielder looks primed to take on more responsibility in the coming years as he gets his body back to full strength.
Whether it's before the 2026 season or simply a guarantee provided to Walsh for when Cripps decides to step down, it's a move Carlton should ensure takes place.
