Geelong is one of three AFL clubs, along with Brisbane and Fremantle, yet to announce its captain for the 2023 season.
The Cats said goodbye to Joel Selwood in the wake of their 2022 premiership win, losing the inspirational leader and midfielder to retirement.
Selwood walked away from Kardinia Park as the longest-serving captain in both club and league history making his boots gigantic ones to fill.
There are a number of candidates to replace Selwood as skipper with names such as Mark Blicavs, Tom Stewart, Patrick Dangerfield, Mitch Duncan and Cam Guthrie among those being floated.
Midfielder Tom Atkins is another in the mix and he has revealed that a typical player vote, as most other clubs undertake, is not the way the Cats will go about choosing their new leader.
He says GM of football Simon Lloyd and head coach Chris Scott have been sounding out the players as opposed to the playing group casting their votes.
“No, we get consulted,” Atkins said on SEN Breakfast when asked if the players will vote on the next skipper.
“There’s a broader group of 20 players that Simon Lloyd and ‘Scotty’ have consulted and got their thoughts.
“That’s been going on for a month or so and then I’ll think they’ll come to a decision at some stage. I’m not too sure when that will be.
“Speaking to the other guys, we’re all very confident that whoever it is we’ll be able to support and get the best out of this list for the next couple of years.
“That’s the priority, is trying to win games and win premierships.”
Atkins is under no illusions that stepping into Selwood’s position is an unenviable task.
However, he insists that there is no pressure from within to replicate the great captain’s historic work.
“Everyone is on the same page,” Atkins added.
“No one wants to be ‘the man’. We just want to win games and we want whoever is to facilitate the best to be in the head position.
“It’s a massive hole left by Joel, he just had every area covered. We don’t expect the next person to be able to do that. We’re going to spread the load and try to be the best they can.”
The Cats have been led by Selwood since 2012 meaning they have not had to worry about going through the process of appointing a new captain for the past decade.
They are in action against Hawthorn in a practice match at GMHBA Stadium on Thursday evening.
