Marc Murphy will lead Carlton for a fourth consecutive year.
As revealed to Blues members last night, the 28-year-old was named captain in a new-look seven-man leadership group including Kade Simpson (vice-captain), Bryce Gibbs, Andrew Walker, Ed Curnow, Sam Docherty and Patrick Cripps.
With a new era beginning at Carlton, the leaders will play a pivotal role in driving high standards and developing a strong culture both on and off the field in 2016 – a fact not lost on Murphy.
“It’s a real honour and privilege to lead the Carlton Football Club for another year,” Murphy said.
“Surrounded by a lot of new teammates and under the guidance of our new coaching panel, I have spent the pre-season further developing my leadership and driving our values and behaviours.
“We are embarking on a new journey as a club, with any future success to be decided by our application and actions. I want to lead us into that next phase.”
Carlton's 2016 leadership group (left to right): Sam Docherty, Bryce Gibbs, Ed Curnow, Marc Murphy (captain), Kade Simpson, Andrew Walker and Patrick Cripps. (Photo: AFL Media)
Coach Brendon Bolton said Murphy was a standout for the captaincy and expressed his delight with the mix of experience and youth in the leadership group.
While Simpson and Walker feature in the group for the first time since 2014, it’s the first time Curnow, Docherty and Cripps have been voted in by their peers.
“As our club set about establishing our new values and behaviours, it became clear very quickly that Marc Murphy was the best person to captain our football club.
“During the pre-season Marc has led from the front in every facet of the team’s leadership development. He is greatly admired and respected by his teammates and coaches alike and I look forward to continuing to work closely with him over the course of the season.
“As we set about establishing further education and building leadership density amongst our team, our 2016 leadership group is an energetic mix of respected senior players and emerging leaders, all with their part to play in our team’s development.”
The Blues kick off their NAB Challenge campaign against Hawthorn at Aurora Stadium on Thursday night, with an open training session scheduled at the same venue at 3:30pm on Wednesday.
