Carlton has retained a seven-man leadership group for 2017, with an inclusion that comes as no surprise to young leader Sam Docherty.

Excitement machine Dennis Armfield was this week voted in by his teammates to fill the seventh position vacated by the recently retired Andrew Walker.

And according to Docherty, ‘Den’ was an obvious fit for the role.

“He (Armfield) is a very vocal character and it’s his leadership around the Club (that makes him a popular choice),” Docherty told Carlton Media.

“Den’s always been a leader ... only now he has the title.

“It’s really good to have him in there (leadership group).”

Docherty will continue in his role as a leader along with Patrick Cripps, Ed Curnow, Bryce Gibbs, vice-captain Kade Simpson and captain Marc Murphy, who were each voted to retain their positions within Carlton’s leadership group.
 

The reigning John Nicholls medallist hopes the leadership group can continue to build upon the foundations set last season.

“Last year we learnt a lot in terms of how to go about our leadership but also how to work together and with the coaches,” Docherty said.

“As a group we’ve been able to use and lean on one another rather than trying to do it all ourselves.

“It’s great that we can continue that (growth) together this year - it’s important for the whole playing group.”

This season will mark Murphy’s fifth as skipper - a reflection on his leadership.

“Murph’s a significant leader on and off the field,” Docherty said.

“He has been voted captain again because he’s the leader of our Club.

“We all respect him really well. He’s doing a great job.”

Carlton takes on Melbourne at Casey Fields on February 25 in the first of its three JLT Community Series matches.