AFL 2024: New captain choices at Port Adelaide, West Coast as other clubs ponder change
Port is in the market for a new captain in 2024 but who are the candidates? Every club’s big captaincy questions answered.
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Heading into the 2023 season, 11 captains were preparing to toss the coin for the first time.
After an unprecedented amount of turnover, a host of club appointed new leaders and most were a success.
Darcy Moore won the flag in his first year in charge, beating out fellow first-timers Lachie Neale and Harris Andrews.
Toby Greene was beaten by Moore’s men a week before, while James Sicily, Zach Merrett and Jordan Dawson all had strong campaigns as new skippers.
If three of the final four teams in this year’s season were led by new captains, there is some truth to the vast difference a new leader can make.
But just two clubs will definitely have new leaders in 2024, with Luke Shuey and Tom Jonas retired from leading West Coast and Port Adelaide respectively.
Who replaces them and whether changes come in other places, like Richmond, Sydney or Fremantle will be decided over the summer months.
Here is where every club’s captaincy situation sits.
THE VACANCIES
PORT ADELAIDE
2023 captain: Tom Jonas (appointed: 2019, solo captain 2020)
A fascinating choice is in front of the Power. Connor Rozee is just 23 but may have vaulted ahead of the pack, including vice-captains Darcy Byrne-Jones and Ollie Wines. Rozee’s running mate Zak Butters also has to be in consideration. Wines, who was co-captain with Jonas in 2019, said in September that missing out on the captaincy was “not something that I’d screw my face up at”. Rozee would be a super choice and could drive the club for a long, long time.
Who is next in line: Connor Rozee
WEST COAST
Luke Shuey (2020)
Chronic hamstring injuries brought Shuey’s run to an end this year so it’s time for a new skipper.Oscar Allen is keen to have a crack at the job at some point and would be a long-term solution if he is ready. Tom Barrass rebuffed offers from other clubs, led by Sydney, to stay loyal to the Eagles and has been a vice-captain alongside Jeremy McGovern. Liam Duggan has also been highly thought of as a leader in recent years. Allen seems the best pick to grow with the club’s rebuild, as long as he is up to the job at age 24.
Who’s next: Oscar Allen
THE QUESTION MARKS
RICHMOND
Dylan Grimes, Toby Nankervis (2022)
Probably time for some change here with Grimes showing signs of slowing down on the field. Hard nut Liam Baker has been touted as a potential replacement, while the likes of Tim Taranto, Jayden Short, Jack Graham, Nathan Broad, Nick Vlastuin and Dion Prestia all carrying plenty of experience. Nankervis is still only 29 so could take the job on solo, but he also copped a big suspension this season so may have his own questions to answer.
Who’s next: Tim Taranto
SYDNEY
Callum Mills, Dane Rampe, Luke Parker (Mills joined other two in 2022)
The question here is on Mills. After a Mad Monday mistake injured his shoulder and pushed him to surgery, Mills will likely miss the first half of the season and the Swans may have to consider whether he remains a co-captain. At this stage it’s probably likely he stays in the group. The Swans had a huge leadership group this year, with five others included, so have plenty of options if they want to replace Mills.
Who’s next: Isaac Heeney
FREMANTLE
Alex Pearce (2023)
The players happily backed Pearce in to take the reins from Nat Fyfe heading into 2023, but the Dockers then slumped to a disappointing campaign. Vice-captains Andrew Brayshaw and Caleb Serong seem destined to lead the club at some point, is it time to elevate one or even both of them? It might be a good time for a shake up.
Who’s next: Andrew Brayshaw and Caleb Serong
LIKELY STAYING PUT
GEELONG
Patrick Dangerfield (2023)
Seems likely Dangerfield will go around again after his first year in charge, with Tom Stewart a more than capable offsider. The Cats went with just those two in their leadership group but called on a big group of veterans whenever needed. Stewart appears next in line and midfield hard nut Tom Atkins is a future option.
Who’s next: Tom Stewart
GOLD COAST
Jarrod Witts, Touk Miller (2022)
Keep an eye on the rising Noah Anderson, who was placed into the leadership group before the 2023 season and has future captain written all over him. But that will probably have to wait another year, with Witts and Miller a strong chance to go on again. Richmond favoured a small leadership group in Damien Hardwick’s later years so may choose to slim down under the new coach.
Who’s next: Noah Anderson
NORTH MELBOURNE
Luke McDonald, Jy Simpkin (2023)
Solid citizens McDonald and Simpkin took over from Jack Ziebell this year and their leadership group has been decimated. Of the four players serving under the co-captains – Ziebell, Ben Cunnington, Nick Larkey and Ben McKay – only Larkey remains. The Roos need new leaders but with the supportive crew hit hard it is time for the likes of Luke Davies-Uniacke or Cam Zurhaar to step up.
Who’s next: Nick Larkey
MELBOURNE
Max Gawn (2020)
Don’t expect change away from Gawn just yet but the Demons are heading into a summer of introspection and would be silly not to at least ask the question whether a shake up from the Gawn-Jack Viney combination would benefit the club. Who comes next at Melbourne? Club CEO Gary Pert named Angus Brayshaw, Christian Petracca, Jake Lever Alex Neal-Bullen and Christian Salem as club leaders in an extensive statement on Monday. Brayshaw’s concussion woes may stand in his way, so that likely leaves Lever and Petracca as frontrunners.
Who’s next: Christian Petracca
LOCKED IN
ADELAIDE
Jordan Dawson (2023)
Some eyebrows were raised outside of Adelaide when Jordan Dawson was appointed to replace Rory Sloane. But the former Swan delivered an outstanding season and helped the team get agonisingly close to the finals. No reason to make a change here. In the future, youngster Max Michalanney is a name to watch.
Who’s next: Max Michalanney
BRISBANE LIONS
Lachie Neale, Harris Andrews (2023)
The co-captains got within a whisker of lifting the premiership cup and had a successful first campaign after taking over from Dayne Zorko. Midfielder Hugh McCluggage was appointed as vice-captain beneath Neale and Andrews this season and is expected to skipper the Lions at some point.
Who’s next: Hugh McCluggage
COLLINGWOOD
Darcy Moore (2023)
When you captain a premiership in your first year in charge, you can lock yourself in to lead the club for a long, long time. Moore may now hold the mantle as best skipper in the league. As for who is next, when does Nick Daicos become a serious contender?
Who’s next: Nick Daicos
HAWTHORN
James Sicily (2023)
Another first-timer this season, Sicily had an All-Australian season and the Hawks outpaced most expectations. Part of a club rebuild is creating more leaders and that will be a task for the Hawks, with Jack Gunston to come back in as a veteran wise head.
Who’s next: Dylan Moore
CARLTON
Patrick Cripps (2018, solo captain from 2022)
This conversation may have been a little different if the Blues didn’t pull off a remarkable turnaround mid-season. Cripps has formed a strong three-man group with Jacob Weitering and Sam Walsh.
Who’s next: Sam Walsh
ESSENDON
Zach Merrett (2023)
Merrett was thrust into the job as captain by Brad Scott and he had an excellent individual season. A straight talker, Merrett will drive standards within the group and was part of a slimmed-down leadership group with Andy McGrath.
Who’s next: Andy McGrath
GWS GIANTS
Toby Greene (2022, solo captain from 2023)
Greene’s appointment as solo captain was another raging skipper success before the 2023 season, as he spurred the Giants on to a sensational preliminary final run. The Greene-Adam Kingsley combination appears to be set in stone for years to come.
Who’s next: Sam Taylor
WESTERN BULLDOGS
Marcus Bontempelli (2020)
It’s hard to see any change coming at the Whitten Oval, even after a disappointing season. Bontempelli was named the best captain in the league by the players this year and is at the peak of his powers as a player. Keep an eye on whether Jack Macrae remains as vice-captain after what was a down season for the ball magnet.
Who’s next: Aaron Naughton
ST KILDA
Jack Steele (2021, solo captain from 2022)
The Saints roared back into the finals this year and Steele remains one of the most reliable leaders in the game. Dasher Jack Sinclair was added to the leadership group before the 2023 season and appears is a respected leader on the rise.
Who’s next: Jack Sinclair
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Originally published as AFL 2024: New captain choices at Port Adelaide, West Coast as other clubs ponder change
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