JED ADCOCK has been unveiled as the Brisbane Lions sole captain for 2014, with champion forward Jonathan Brown relieved of his duties after seven years in the role.
Brown had a big say in stepping aside and will be used as a mentor to Adcock, vice-captain Tom Rockliff and deputy vice-captains Daniel Merrett, Daniel Rich and Joel Patfull.
Adcock was co-captain alongside Brown in 2013 but he will hold the job in his own right this year as the Lions enter a new era under coach Justin Leppitsch.
The 28-year-old, who has played 163 games, captained the Lions in the final four games of the 2013 season when Brown was sidelined with a foot injury.
Leppitsch said lightening Brown's duties was a joint decision.
"He was really keen to step away and become a mentor and we were keen to do the same thing," Leppitsch said at the Gabba on Thursday.
"I think it'll help him personally, but more importantly it'll help our club develop new leaders.
"If Browny is always in those meetings, he'll always be heard, he's always dominant with a strong personality. I think it's time the next generation come through.
"We're really conscious to use his strengths but also grow others from underneath."
Reducing Brown's leadership commitments should give the 32-year-old more time to focus on his football as he enters his 15th season with an expected role deep in the forward line.
The structure was finalised earlier this week during a leadership conference in Noosa involving the club's core senior players.
Brown said he was excited to watch the club's new crop of leaders develop.
"Obviously I have relished my time as captain, but I think it’s the right time for a changing of the guard," he said.
"I’m coming towards the end of my career and I think with 'Leppa' on board it’s the perfect time for a fresh start.
"I’ll still be there to support the boys when they need, but I have every confidence in the ability of Jed, Tom and our next generation of leaders to take the club forward."
The new Lions coach said the captaincy would be a year-by-year proposition, but backed Adcock's strength both on and off field.
"Jed was a bit of a standout in front, and Tom was a bit of a standout in second position, and the last three were grouped together," Leppitsch said.
"This won't be the biggest change. I would have thought the implementation of a new gameplan and adapting to things on-field will be our biggest challenge."
Adcock said it was a "huge honour" to have the sole captaincy.
"Browny missed a few games (last year), but it made me become that on-field leader a bit more," Adcock said.
"And he probably stood down a bit more last year and it allowed me to take that front role a bit more."
The Lions' extended leadership group is made up by Pearce Hanley, Matthew Leuenberger, Dayne Zorko, Jack Redden and Mitch Golby.
