Every AFL club’s captains and leadership group for 2018
Being the captain of a professional club is one of the highest honours that any athlete can achieve. For some, it is about leading their team to glory, for other it is just about helping their team perform to the best of their ability.
The captains, however, shoulders a great responsibility in not only leading their team but also facing the media week in week out and often being one of the most heavily scrutinised players.
Luckily for these captains, they are surrounded by strong leadership groups forming the core of any AFL team.
Here are the 2018 leaders for your club.
Adelaide
Captain: Taylor Walker
Leadership Group: Rory Sloane (Vice-Captain), Matt Crouch, Tom Lynch
Brisbane
Captain: Dayne Beams
Leadership Group: Dayne Zorko (VC), Allen Christensen, Harris Andrews, Stefan Martin, Ryan Lester
Carlton
Captain: Marc Murphy
Leadership Group: Patrick Cripps (VC), Sam Docherty (VC), Ed Curnow, Alex Silvagni, Kade Simpson, Matthew Kreuzer, Lachie Plowman,
Collingwood
Captain: Scott Pendlebury
Leadership Group: Steele Sidebottom (VC), Taylor Adams, Jeremy Howe, Lynden Dunn,
Essendon
Captain: Dyson Heppell
Leadership Group: Zach Merret (VC), Cale Hooker (VC), David Myers, Joe Daniher, Orazio Fantasia,Michael Hurley
Fremantle
Captain: Nat Fyfe
Leadership Group: David Mundy, Michael Walters, Bradley Hill,Aaron Sandilands, Alex Pearce, Lachie Neale
Geelong
Geelong is yet to announce their leadership group for 2018. The club will make an announcement at Friday’s season launch with Joel Selwood expected to retain the captaincy. All eyes will be on Gary Ablett to see if he takes on a leadership role in his first year back at the club.
Gold Coast
Captains: Tom Lynch, Steven May
Leadership Group: Michael Barlow, Pearce Hanley, Matt Rosa, David Swallow, Touk Miller, , Jarrod Witts
Greater Western Sydney
The Giants are also yet to name their leadership group but it is expected that Callan Ward and Phil Davis retain their roles as co-captains. Last year’s leadership included Josh Kelly, Dylan Shiel and Heath Shaw with Stephen Coniglio acting as the vice-captain. There has been nothing to suggest that this will change however Devon Smith has left the club after being in last years group.
Hawthorn
Captain: Jarryd Roughead
Leadership Group: Liam Shield (VC), Isaac Smith (VC), Ben Stratton, Jack Gunston,
Melbourne
Captains: Nathan Jones, Jack Viney
Leadership Group: Jordan Lewis (VC), Max Gawn (VC)
North Melbourne
Captain: Jack Ziebell
Leadership Group: Robbie Tarrant (VC), Shaun Higgins, Jamie Macmillan
Port Adelaide
Captain: Travis Boak
Leadership Group: Ollie Wines (VC), Hamish Hartlett, Tom Jonas, Charlie Dixon, Brad Ebert, Tom Rockliff
Richmond
The Tigers have yet to announce their 2018 leadership group but it would be a surprise to see any changes following their premiership triumph. Trent Cotchin led the team last year with Jack Reiwoldt and Alex Rance as deputies.
St Kilda
Captain: Jarryn Geary
Leadership Group: Jack Newnes, Dylan Roberton, Jack Steven, Seb Ross
Sydney
Captain: Josh Kennedy
Leadership Group: Dan Hannebery (VC), Dane Rampe (VC), Luke Parker (VC), Kieren Jack, Nick Smith, Jarrad McVeigh
West Coast
Captain: Shannon Hurn
Leadership Group: Josh Kennedy (VC), Luke Shuey (VC), Andrew Gaff, Jeremy McGovern, Nic Natanui
Western Bulldogs
Captain: Easton Wood
Leadership Group: Marcus Bontempelli (VC), Jason Johannisen, Jack Redpath, Lachie Hunter, Jordan Roughead