The 20-year-old played every game last season after spending 2009 in the QAFL.
Banfield said he is comfortable being the role model to the Lions' young players as they try to consolidate themselves in senior football.
"I feel a lot more like a leader this year. A lot of the guys are around my age and playing their fist game for the club," Banfield said on Thursday.
"A few guys come up to me. I've got Jared Polec living with me and it is always good to help the young guys."
Banfield said Polec had been the standout of the Lions' 2010 draft class after he was taken with the fifth pick at last year's meet.
Daniel Merrett will captain the Lions in the absence of skipper Jonathan Brown and will take to the field wearing a special, one-off 'Queensland spirit' jumper as a tribute to victims of the recent floods to hit the state.
The jumper "represents all the people who have been through hard times up north and around the Brisbane suburbs," Merrett said.
"It will be a special time for Queenslanders to see us wear those jumpers. It is the Queensland spirit and it is in honour of all those who have suffered."
Merrett said he was thrilled to lead the Lions, even if it was only temporarily.
"It's a great honour. I think I'm the only one in the team old enough to grow a beard. That's why I got the captaincy," he said.
"I'm really looking forward to it. Without Browny, Blacky and Luke Power there, it's a very young team."
Todd Banfield is a $241,400 forward in the Toyota AFL Dream Team competition.
