HAWTHORN stars Jack Gunston and Ben Stratton headline a host of candidates ready to step into the leadership void left by club greats Sam Mitchell and Jordan Lewis next season, midfielder Liam Shiels says.

The Hawks lost a wealth of experience when they parted ways with 2008 premiership skipper Mitchell (West Coast) and vice-captain Lewis (Melbourne) during a stunning NAB AFL Trade Period.

But Shiels was confident Hawthorn's next generation of leaders were ready to shoulder more responsibility and smooth the transition into a new era.

"When you lose two players of their calibre (Mitchell and Lewis), it means that other players are going to have to step up," Shiels told the club's website.

"We've got a strong group of emerging leaders, so with those guys leaving, other guys have to fill the void both off field and on field.

"Ben Stratton, Jack Gunston, Ben McEvoy, Luke Bruest (are in the mix), just to name a few.

"There’s a number of different guys that have been in the emerging leaders program that I’m sure are ready to put their hand up."

Shiels, long touted as a future skipper, also shapes as a frontrunner to be elevated to the leadership group, with a looming vote from players and coaching staff to fill the roles.

Last season, Hawthorn's leadership group included Luke Hodge, Josh Gibson, Jarryd Roughead, Isaac Smith, Lewis and Mitchell.

The Hawks are currently on a nine-day training camp on the Sunshine Coast – where Hodge was confirmed as skipper for a sixth-straight season after the popular vote last year.

Since he inherited the captaincy from Mitchell at the end of 2010, Hodge has led the Hawks in 125 matches – third on the club's all-time list behind Graham Arthur (153) and Michael Tuck (140).

In June, the triple-premiership skipper told AFL.com.au he had no plans to step aside from the role and would put his hand up to lead the club again in 2017.

"I'll do it for as long as the club want me to," Hodge, 32, said.

"I still really enjoy doing it, it's an honour to captain an AFL side – especially one with this history and to see the captains we've had beforehand."