Ablett quit the post as skipper last year and requested a trade back to Geelong which was denied by Gold Coast.

Captains Tom Lynch and Steven May will be joined in the leadership group by Michael Rischitelli, Matt Rosa and David Swallow, while newcomers Michael Barlow and Touk Miller round out the seven-man group. 

Suns coach Rodney Eade said Lynch and May would be supported by a “strong group of leaders”.

“Michael Rischitelli, Matt Rosa and David Swallow are already established leaders at our football club and in Michael and David’s case they’ve been playing that role for some time,” Eade said.

“Similar to Matty Rosa last year, Michael Barlow has made an immediate impact on the playing group, leading by example on and off the field and his elevation to the player leadership group demonstrates the influence he has had on the team in a relatively short period of time.”