Brisbane Lions Appoint Trio as Co-Captains for Premiership Defence
The Brisbane Lions have made a significant leadership change by appointing Harris Andrews, Josh Dunkley and Hugh McCluggage as co-captains for their upcoming Australian Football League season. This decision comes as the club prepares to defend their back-to-back premierships and pursue an unprecedented third consecutive title.
Neale's Departure Creates Leadership Vacuum
Former captain Lachie Neale relinquished the co-captaincy role in January following a highly publicised marriage breakdown, creating uncertainty about who would lead the team. Neale had previously shared captaincy duties with Harris Andrews during the Lions' successful premiership campaigns.
The announcement on Monday confirmed that all three players would share leadership responsibilities, marking a departure from traditional single-captain structures. Notably, Neale does not feature in the Lions' extended leadership group, which includes new recruit Oscar Allen alongside Jarrod Berry, Cam Rayner, Jaspa Fletcher and Will Ashcroft.
Fagan Embraces Unconventional Leadership Approach
Coach Chris Fagan, who has historically been sceptical about shared captaincy arrangements, explained his change of heart in a detailed statement. "It was quite unique to have three guys that are more than capable of being great captains at your one club at the one time," Fagan said.
"If you have three good people then why not have three captains. For us, leadership is a teamwork thing so to have three captains reinforces that philosophy and we work really hard to build leadership density at our footy club."
Fagan highlighted the complementary strengths of each captain, describing Andrews as "the thinker," McCluggage as possessing "emotional intelligence," and Dunkley as "the enforcer." He emphasised that these three represent the club's best trademark players and bring diverse personalities to the leadership structure.
Captain Profiles and Contributions
Harris Andrews has established himself as one of the game's premier defenders, earning three All-Australian selections during his career. The 27-year-old has served as co-captain since 2023 and brings extensive leadership experience to the role.
Josh Dunkley, the 29-year-old midfielder who joined Brisbane from the Western Bulldogs at the end of 2022, has been instrumental in the Lions' recent success. Fagan has previously compared Dunkley's leadership style to Hawthorn triple-premiership captain Luke Hodge, and the midfielder was named Brisbane's best and fairest player during their premiership season last year.
Hugh McCluggage, a 27-year-old classy midfielder, has served as vice-captain since 2023 and brings 209 games of experience to the leadership role. The All-Australian selection from last season provides additional midfield leadership alongside Dunkley.
Season Outlook and Premiership Defence
The Brisbane Lions will begin their premiership defence at the Gabba against the Western Bulldogs on March 7. The unconventional three-captain structure represents a calculated gamble as the club seeks to maintain their winning momentum while integrating new leadership dynamics.
This leadership model reflects the club's commitment to developing leadership density throughout the playing group, with Fagan noting that all three captains are "fine young men" who bring different strengths to their shared responsibilities. The success of this approach will be tested as Brisbane attempts to secure a historic third consecutive AFL premiership.
