BRISBANE Lions captain Tom Rockliff says the club has developed new leaders this summer and has options if it opts for a new skipper in 2017. 

Rockliff has led the Lions for the past two seasons, but the Lions may look for a new leader after coach Chris Fagan declared the position was up for grabs. 

Rockliff said a number of players had embraced the idea of taking on leadership roles, with ruckman Stefan Martin among those considered an option for the captaincy.  

The skipper, who was on the trade table last year, said he would gladly step aside if someone else was better suited to taking on the role. 

"If it's not me, (I'll) support whoever it is," Rockliff told Melbourne radio station SEN. 

"I think it's important these days that you have a really strong leadership group and I think the days of having one person (are over).

"With Leading Teams coming onboard, it's been a really good process for us to go through as a playing group. 

"The player empowerment (gives us) a real say on the direction of where we want to get to."

Rockliff identified 2016 club champion Dayne Zorko as a candidate for the captaincy, as well as midfielder Dayne Beams and Martin.

"Stefan Martin is one who's put his hand up and shown some real leadership this pre-season where probably in the past – and by his own admission – he's just gone about his own business," he said. 

"He's got some real care for this group and where it's heading. 

"Dayne Zorko could easily captain an AFL club and Dayne Beams is the same." 

With a controversial off-season behind him, Rockliff said he was enjoying an "honest" relationship with Fagan.

The pair had a tough discussion when Fagan arrived, with the coach keen to address things he had heard about the midfielder's leadership style and off-field habits. 

"Chris was really open with me and I was really open with him and we had a really good conversation," Rockliff said. 

"From then on it's been a really good relationship and probably the most honest one. 

"We had those conversations, I think they needed to be had, and we've put them to bed and moved on.

"I've just gone about my business and no doubt I've changed a couple of things."