Brisbane Lions stick with leadership structure that delivered them premiership success

Having won the AFL premiership last season, the Brisbane Lions have predictably kept the same leadership structure in place.

Harris Andrews and Lachie Neale will remain Brisbane’s co-captains, with the Lions maintaining the leadership structure that delivered them AFL premiership success last season.
Andrews and Neale will head a leadership group that includes vice-captains Hugh McCluggage and Josh Dunkley, as well as Charlie Cameron, Cam Rayner, Brandon Starcevich, Jarrod Berry and Oscar McInerney.

“Some people might think that nine leaders are a lot to have, but we feel that they all bring something different,” Brisbane’s general manager of football Danny Daly said.

“When you have a playing list of 45 people and a big footy department it is really important to have a diverse range of opinions, ideas and leadership, which we feel complements our brand and style really well.”

Lions co-captains Harris Andrews (left) and Lachie Neale celebrate the club’s 2024 AFL premiership success. Picture: Quinn Rooney/Getty Images

It will be the third year that Andrews and Neale will co-captain the Lions, having been voted in by their peers.

“They have done an amazing job, Both have led from the front. They are very different (leaders) but in the same breath they are very important to the style of leadership we have,” Daly said.

“We have played in two grand finals since they have been captains, so they have done an outstanding job as our captains and leaders.”

Daly said have the peer-voting system was important to maintain despite the likelihood that the same leaders would be retained following premiership success.

“Even though we won a premiership last year, I think it is important that our players and staff don’t get caught up in being satisfied with where we are,” he said.

“I suppose you always ask the question and go through the process to make sure there’s not players who don’t want to be in the leadership group anymore, or to see if there is anyone who wants to step up into the leadership group.

“We also know of some younger boys we have on our list who we need to develop to become potential leaders one day, so we have a bit of a group beneath the leaders we are working with.”

The Lions start their premiership defence on March 6 against Geelong at the Gabba.

Originally published as Brisbane Lions stick with leadership structure that delivered them premiership success