OUT-GOING Geelong midfielder Cameron Ling says there are multiple candidates who are capable of replacing him as captain in 2012 with the Cats having an impressive depth of leadership.

Ling, who announced his retirement on Wednesday after 246 games and three premierships, leaves behind the 2011 leadership group that consisted of Joel Selwood (vice-captain), Jimmy Bartel, James Kelly, Harry Taylor, Joel Corey and Corey Enright.

He said there were plenty of options for his successor but believed the team's culture of widespread contribution to the role would continue regardless of who was named as the main man.

"I think there's a big group. It's not that there's no one; it's a big group of guys," he said.

"I think that's been the beauty of the footy club over the past six or seven years; there's such a big group of leaders who really contribute.

"You've got Matty Scarlett and Darren Milburn and Cam Mooney and Brad Ottens and Andrew Mackie and Matty Stokes … all these guys who are leading the team as well and really selfless quality people who are pushing the team in the right direction.

"I think that's the beauty of the club so whoever ends up getting the title of captain, they're going to have a lot of support and they're not going to have to change much about the way they go about things, which is really good."

Club CEO Brian Cook said the job to appoint the 2012 captain would ramp up in the New Year, with the Cats to stick with the same process used in previous seasons.

"Every year it's basically a combination of the player leadership group and the coaches, who get together and talk about captaincy and leadership, and then a recommendation goes to the board by February each year," he said.

"It's not that simple; it's much more a complicated process than that but that's it in its simple form."

Coach Chris Scott said he also believed the current leadership group was "really strong" and had presented many options to take on the main role.

"We can't try to replace Cameron like for like because there's not another Lingy," he said.

"We've just got to make sure we keep developing good people and the void Cam leaves is shared by a number of our leadership group."

Dual premiership forward Cameron Mooney is the only other confirmed retiree from the Cats at this stage with veteran defender Darren Milburn yet to make an official announcement on his future.

"I'm really conscious that it's Cameron's day today and once we're aware of those things, we'll let you know as soon as we can," Scott said, when asked if he knew of any other Cats who were poised to hang up the boots.