Brisbane skipper Dayne Zorko is set to put his hand up to continue leading the Lions beyond this year, with a players vote set to decide who captains the club in 2023.
Zorko has held the role since 2018, a season where he shared the captaincy with former fellow midfielder Dayne Beams before taking on the duties solo the year after.
The 33-year-old's position as captain has come under fire in recent weeks, with the five-time club best and fairest winner involved in a ugly verbal altercation with Melbourne defender Harrison Petty last month.
North Melbourne great David King was among those to suggest the Lions couldn't extend Zorko's tenure as captain in the wake of the Petty incident,
โHe canโt be captain doing that stuff. He canโt be captain if heโs a recidivist in this area and getting it wrong,โ King toldย Fox Footy.ย
Speaking toย 9 Newsย after his side's preliminary final exit this week, Zorko said he'll be in the running for the captaincy, but will be understanding if the honour lands with someone else.
"It's always a privilege to captain your club," Zorko said.
"I've been very fortunate, with a club with such rich history, to do that for a number of years now.
Zorko: โIf the time is right to hand it (the captaincy) over it is but weโll let the players decide.โ
As I said last night if there was a vote held now Iโd be staggered if Dayne didnโt win. Heart and soul of the Lions. Theyโre a finals team because of the culture he built #AFL https://t.co/xbe6quw2LJ
— Mark Gottlieb (@MarkGottlieb) September 17, 2022
"If the time is right to hand it (the captaincy) over it is, but weโll let the players decide that."
Should Zorko see his reign as captain come to an end, the Lions won't be short on options in their search for his successor.
Key defender and vice-captain Harris Andrews has formed as the likely option to one day replace Zorko, with the Lions captain already labelling his defensive general as the "front-runner" to be the club's next skipper.
Medium-sized backman Brandon Starcevich and midfield pair Lachie Neale and Hugh McCluggage could also be in the frame to take on the proverbial captain's armband.
Captaincy won't be the only matter Zorko will need to resolve before the start of next season, with the Broadbeach product also unsigned for next season.
2023 would be Zorko's 12th campaign at the Lions, a career that has totalled 230 matches.
