Star midfielder Jobi Harper has been appointed Launceston captain for the third year running.
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The 27-year-old was officially returned to the role on Friday, with veteran ruckman Joe Groenewegen set to replace Ryan Tyrrell as vice-captain.
Harper's reappointment comes after an all-conquering 2020 campaign that saw him lead the Blues to their first flag senior flag since 2011.
He won a second Darrel Baldock Medal to go with club best and fairest and TSL player of the year, and hopes to continue growing as a leader in 2021.
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"When I first got the role a few years ago I was pretty raw and still learning as a leader - I'm still learning a lot, but I'd like to think I've improved myself the last three years in the way I lead and get other people involved," Harper said.
"I've still got a long way to go leadership-wise, but the group that we've got at the moment couldn't be an easier group to lead.
"They're so enthusiastic ... with the success we had at the club last year it brings a lot of joy to the role and I'm keen to hopefully do it all again this year."
A two-time premiership player with the Blues by the age of 19, Groenewegen takes the vice-captaincy after a rollercoaster return season at Windsor Park.
Breaking his leg weeks before round one, the 29-year-old made his senior comeback on the eve of finals before lining up in a third grand final win.
His unswerving dedication to the club throughout his injury rehabilitation didn't go unnoticed, with teammates voting him into leadership in just his second year back from a four-year army stint interstate.
"I love this place so It's a real honour to have a position like that at the footy club," Groenewegen said.
"I guess all you do when you're an older bloke is turn up and try and do the right thing and when the team's really young they see that.
"That's all I've done, just try to get myself right and do the right thing and I guess it's just been reflected in the boys respecting that, so I was pleasantly surprised."
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The Blues have gone from strength to strength in recent years, turning an eighth-placed finish in 2016 into a string of finals appearances before last year's breakthrough.
Groenewegen, who left Windsor Park at the end of 2016 following his second best and fairest in three years, said he had been impressed by the stature of club he returned to at the start of 2020.
"The environment was already here when I turned up in terms of challenging people to do to the right thing and holding each other accountable - that was already there," he said.
"Nothing changes with my approach [with the vice-captaincy], it's just turn up, do the right thing, make sure everyone else is doing the right thing and try and play footy."
Launceston coach Mitch Thorp said Harper and Groenewegen were the right men to lead the club towards back-to-back flags in 2021.
"Jobi's football credentials really speak for themselves on the field, but it's been really pleasing for me to see Jobi grow in the captaincy space," Thorp said.
"His empathy and the time that he's got for his teammates have really just made it a no-brainer for him to be captain of our senior team - he was a unanimous vote for 2021.
"Joe's a fantastic story. First and foremost he's a Launceston person - he's won three premierships, two best and fairests and with that comes a really warm, approachable human being that our young guys feel really comfortable around.
"His time trial of 6:40 for 2km has him in our top-10 - as a ruckman it's pretty impressive."
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Hamish Geale
Hamish Geale is a senior reporter at The Examiner. Got good news? Email: hgeale@examiner.com.au
Hamish Geale is a senior reporter at The Examiner. Got good news? Email: hgeale@examiner.com.au
