Collingwood vice-captain Taylor Adams has thrown his support behind Steele Sidebottom's position in the Magpies leadership group.
AFL greats Gary Lyon and Tim Watson questioned Sidebottom's role in the leadership group after he was suspended for four games last season for breaching AFL COVID protocols.
Adams defended his teammate on Twitter by explaining that the Magpies use a democratic system to vote on who should be in the leadership group and Sidebottom was voted in by his peers.
The Magpies face Richmond in the AFL Community Series on Friday night and then kick off their season against the Western Bulldogs at the MCG on Friday, March 19.