Scott Pendlebury will continue as Collingwood captain in 2022.
An announcement was made before club training on Wednesday that the veteran would hold the reigns for a ninth consecutive season.
Pendlebury, 34, is the club’s longest serving captain in history - having led the side out for 183 games.
The five-time Copeland Trophy winner says he has “added motivation” to undertake the role in 2022 as the club ventures a new path with first-year coach Craig McRae.
“It is, and always has been, a great honour to lead the team and stand for everyone who loves the black and white,” Pendlebury said.
“But I’ve got added motivation this year, my ninth in the role, which is to assist the new coaching panel to develop what is a relatively young squad.
“There’s no shortage of strong and emerging leaders in our group and this year we’ll take the opportunity to further develop those players as future leaders and, as a group, we have a role to play in the education of something like 20 or 21 first, second or third year players.”
Words from @flybags4 as he announces Pendles as skipper for 2022:
— Collingwood FC (@CollingwoodFC) January 19, 2022
Having held the role for the longest period in club history, plenty of talk in the off-season surrounded whether it might be time for Pendlebury to pass the reigns on to a younger leader.
Despite Collingwood possessing a raft of viable options, Pendlebury looks destined to make up his own mind of when he wants to relinquish the title.
The 334-gamer signed a two-year deal in October that will see him remain on the club’s list until at least the end of the 2023 season.
The club’s other leadership appointments will be made in coming weeks.