Brownlow Medallist Gerard Healy has called on Carlton to elevate Sam Walsh to vice-captain for the 2022 season.
The 21-year-old and former Rising Star winner was named in the Blues’ leadership group in just his second season and has been touted as a future Carlton captain.
It’s unclear whether Carlton will continue with co-captains this year after the club announced on Wednesday that Sam Docherty will step down from the role to focus on his health.
Healy would stick with Patrick Cripps as skipper and appoint Walsh as his deputy for the upcoming campaign.
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“This is what I’d do, and it’s a radical solution,” Healy told Sportsday.
“I’d make Cripps captain … and I’d introduce the youngster (Walsh) as a vice-captain.
“Give him a two-year apprenticeship, maybe one, and off he goes.”
Walsh had an exceptional 2021 season - finishing fourth in the Brownlow Medal, winning a maiden Carlton best and fairest and earning All-Australian selection for the first time.
Cripps, Docherty, Walsh, Jacob Weitering, Ed Curnow, Marc Murphy (retired) and Liam Jones (retired) made up Carlton’s leadership group last year.