CARLTON Football Club will be led by an established leadership group for the upcoming 2019 AFL season.

Newly appointed co-captains Sam Docherty and Patrick Cripps will be supported by experienced senior players Marc Murphy, Ed Curnow and Kade Simpson.

With a total of 699 AFL games between them, Murphy, Curnow and Simpson all boast a wealth of invaluable experience that will be crucial in driving elite standards and guiding an emerging playing group.

Murphy was named captain of the Blues in 2013 and led the Club with esteem and class for the next six seasons. The 31-year-old elected to pass on the captaincy at the end of the 2018 season and will now support both Cripps and Docherty whilst continuing to mentor his younger teammates.

Curnow has been part of Carlton’s leadership group since 2016, with the hard-working midfielder an everyday example to his teammates of what is required - on and off the field - to earn an AFL career.

The ageless Simpson perfectly rounds out the five-man group with the beloved veteran primed to enter his 17th AFL season. Currently sitting on 307 games, Simpson sits fifth overall for games played in navy blue behind club legends Stephen Silvagni, John Nicholls, Bruce Doull and Craig Bradley.

Both Cripps and Docherty, who were appointed co-captains in October, said they were excited to lead this club alongside such highly respected individuals.

“Doc and I could not think of three better players and people we would rather have by our side to lead our football club,” Cripps said.

“Murph, Ed and Simmo have been true leaders of Carlton over the last few years – when our club has needed them, they have been front and centre. Their experience and support will be crucial in helping us to take this group to a new and exciting level in 2019.”

Docherty believed the foundation has now been set for an exciting year ahead.

“Our playing group now has a great mix of experienced and young talent and we feel our leadership group is a true reflection of that.

“While we each have our own unique style of leadership we share the same philosophy – to take the Carlton Football Club into its next era of success.

“We will do that by being relentless and uncompromising in driving elite standards within the playing group. There is genuine excitement within this group about what we can achieve together in 2019.”

The leadership group, which was voted upon by the players and coaching staff, has been confirmed by December in a sign of the team’s desire to waste no time in the continued development of our playing list.