ADELAIDE co-captain Taylor Walker says it was a "no-brainer" to have close mate and Crows vice-captain Rory Sloane share the leadership duties to help him return to his best form on the field.
Crows coach Don Pyke made the decision – in consultation with key management at the club including chief executive Andrew Fagan and chairman Rob Chapman - to elevate Sloane into the co-captaincy role alongside Walker, who had captained on his own since the start of 2015.
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Walker then spoke with Sloane midway through last week to offer him the position.
"The development I've seen in 'Sloaney' in the past four or five years has been outstanding," Walker told reporters on Tuesday.
"It was a no-brainer for me to get Sloaney up to help me.
"Sloaney, the type of guy he is, he just wanted to do anything that was going to help us with success."
After leading the Crows to the 2017 Grand Final, Walker had a difficult season last year as he struggled with injuries.
The key forward booted 26 goals – his lowest return since 2013 – in his 14 games and said that sharing the captaincy would help him return to form.
"It's the best thing for our football club in this point in time, and it's the best thing for me to be able to do what I'm here for, and that's to perform," Walker said.
"I had a very challenging year last year and to have Sloaney right beside me, I'm excited, I can't wait.
"There will be things we change that we won't know about, and there will be things that will change that we can look forward to and plan for."
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Sloane said he had no hesitation in accepting Walker and Pyke's offer.
"My first reaction was, is this going to help us be a better team and help us achieve what we're all essentially here for?" Sloane said.
"Both of them thought yes, so as I've always said, anything that's going to help this team get success, I'm all up for.
"I'm really chuffed to be co-captain and run out next to him."
It's the first time in the history of the Crows' men's team that the club has had co-captains.
Erin Phillips and Chelsea Randall have been co-captains of the club's AFLW side since its inception in 2017.
Pyke said it was a "common-sense decision" and helped to ease the burden off Walker with all of the responsibilities a captain in modern-day sport is expected to undertake.
"'Tex' (Walker) has done a fantastic job for us and he remains the captain, and it's an opportunity for Rory who has grown in that space to step up and join forces with him," Pyke said.
"In this case, it just made sense that the power of the two is stronger than the power of the one. - Don Pyke
"They've got complementary skills, they play in different positions, they play a different style but they both have a massive impact on the game.
"I think we've got the benefit of two great leaders going forward."
Sloane has played 177 games for the Crows, is a two-time best and fairest and will be a Crow for life after signing a five-year contract extension last year.
Sloane bristled at suggestions he may have been promised the captaincy during his discussions to re-sign with the Crows.
"That's a little bit disrespectful, to both myself and the footy club, that you would think they would put that in a contract," Sloane said.
The Crows are yet to finalise the rest of their leadership group, which last year comprised Walker, Sloane, midfielder Matt Crouch and forward Tom Lynch.
