Carlton has named an extended leadership group, with second-year midfielder Sam Walsh among the inclusions.
The reigning AFL Rising Star had an outstanding first season, playing all 22 games and averaging 25 disposals.
Former Essendon captain Tim Watson said it is a huge vote of confidence in Walsh from the Blues.
“It speaks volumes about the young man. We know what he is capable of doing on the field when he plays, but obviously he exhibits a lot of those leadership characteristics off the field, which is a vote of confidence in his maturity,” Watson told SEN Breakfast.
“You go and you draft somebody as the number one pick in the country. You want the all-round player and you’re hoping that he is capable of showing all the leadership qualities you saw in him as he developed through the junior ranks, but for him to push his way into a leadership group after one season of footy does speak volumes to what they have, Carlton.”
Patrick Cripps and Sam Docherty will once again captain the club, with the latter expected to run out as skipper for the first time.
Docherty has torn his ACL twice in the last two years, meaning Thursday’s practice game against the Pies will be his first as Blues leader.
Garry Lyon believes Carlton’s current leadership situation and the future of it is in very good hands.
“If you’re a Carlton supporter, that holds you in such good stead. Your leadership is with Docherty who will hand it over to Cripps outright you would imagine,” Lyon said.
“Then you’ve got Weitering and Walsh and then Liam Jones sitting in the wings and I think that holds you in pretty good stead.”
Jacob Weitering and Liam Jones have been voted into the group, alongside veterans Marc Murphy and Ed Curnow.
Lyon adds that Jones’ rise from forward on the verge of being delisted to reliable defender in the leadership group is an inspirational story.
“Liam Jones is the story in the announcement. This is a bloke whose career was almost shot and then they said let’s try him in the back half as a last resort before we cut him and then he was just a revelation,” he said.
“This skillset he has, his marking, his closing speed and he’s become this super defender, but even as a defender he’s had some issues.
“He had the physical side of it all down, but trying to learn the angles and understanding when to play off and when to zone, they were all a big issue that we were taking a look at.
“And on top of all of that, he’s had some really bad injury problems and he’s overcome all of them and not only has a secure future at Carlton, he’s seen as one of their leaders, I think that’s one of the more inspiring footy stories in recent times.”