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Melbourne Demons, Hawthorn Hawks, Port Adelaide announce AFL captains for season 2021

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Camera IconCredit: Clubs have announced their leaders for 2021.

A host of AFL clubs announced their captains for the season ahead on Friday, here’s all you need to know. 

MELBOURNE DEMONS - By Shayne Hope

Melbourne have elected Max Gawn as their sole captain for the second successive AFL season, with Jack Viney again his deputy.

The pair will remain in the roles they were handed last year in a streamlined leadership set-up, bucking the competition trend of clubs appointing larger leadership groups.

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Gawn and Viney were nominated through a voting process by players and coaching staff, which included consultation with the club's senior executive.

"We are very fortunate that we have a number of strong leaders within our playing group who display our club values on a consistent basis," Demons football boss Alan Richardson said.

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"As a collective, we feel the streamlined approach of having a captain and vice-captain worked really well last year.

"Pleasingly, this view was reinforced through the player voting process where both Max and Jack were the two standout candidates.

"They are not only great football players but they are also outstanding people and no one wants success for this footy club more than those two men."

PORT ADELAIDE - By Steve Larkin

Port Adelaide have reappointed Tom Jonas as captain while elevating defender Darcy Byrne-Jones to the leadership group of the AFL club.

Jonas will lead Port for a third consecutive season after sharing the role with Ollie Wines in 2019 before taking it by himself last season.

Wines will remain as vice-captain for the looming season with Hamish Hartlett and Byrne-Jones also in the leadership group.

Byrne-Jones’ inclusion comes after he won the club champion award last season.

“Darcy has been a highly consistent performer ... and he’s particularly impressed with his leadership development across the last two seasons,” Port’s general manager of football Chris Davies said in a statement on Friday.

“His character is one which is highly respected and valued within our group.” 

HAWTHORN - By Shayne Hope

Hawthorn have named dual AFL premiership ruckman Ben McEvoy as their new captain.

The 31-year-old takes over from flag-winning teammate Ben Stratton, who retired last year.

Jaeger O’Meara has been named the Hawks’ sole vice-captain after a leadership selection process facilitated by Leading Teams.

Rising star James Worpel joins experienced trio Liam Shiels, Jack Gunston and Tom Mitchell in rounding out the six-man leadership group.

“We’ve got a fantastic mix of youth and experience within our ranks and this leadership group is reflective of that,” Hawthorn CEO Justin Reeves said.

“Ben is one of those people who is universally admired both inside and outside Hawthorn’s walls.

“He’s a salt of the earth, family man with strong values and we know he’ll set a fantastic example leading from the front.”

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