Katie Brennan has been announced as Richmond's AFLW captain for a sixth consecutive season, underlining her impeccable standing within the Club.
The star centre half forward, 31, is now the competition’s longest-serving captain, having held the role in every season since the AFLW’s inception in 2017.
The dual All-Australian showed no signs of slowing down in her eighth season last year, reaching the 50-game milestone and booting her 65th career goal over 52 outings.
Richmond AFLW senior coach Ryan Ferguson lauded Brennan, adding that the team was blessed with incredible depth of leadership that would drive the group forward.
"This group trusts her and will always follow her," Ferguson said.
"She embodies everything this group believes in, she lives and breathes our values.
"She creates genuine and meaningful relationships with all our players. She is consistent, elite, caring, and challenges herself and us."
Brennan will be joined in the leadership group by co-vice captain Gabby Seymour, who has been voted into the role for a second year.
A core member of Richmond's AFLW side since its beginning, Seymour, who was initially added to the list as a cross-code rookie from volleyball via the VFLW program, has gained widespread recognition across the industry for her advocacy work and leadership pushing for women in sport.
Known for her elite behaviours and fierce mindset with the Club, the tall utility has played 45 of a possible 47 games for the AFLW Tigers and has finished in the top three in the Club's AFLW best and fairest on three occasions.
Tessa Lavey has been elevated by her peers into the co-vice-captain role alongside Seymour, a credit to the experienced elite athlete, who did not play a game in 2023 due to a toe injury which put her on the long-term injury list.
The 31-year-old winger took the injury in her stride and still played a pivotal role in the Tigers’ season, including a match day role in football operations.
Rounding out the Tigers' leadership group is Monique Conti and Sarah Hosking, who have been reappointed as leaders for a third and fifth and campaign respectively.
Superstar Conti, 24, winner of the 2023 AFLW league best and fairest, has continued her impressive evolution as a leader. The midfield sensation’s passion for the Club and ability to set elite standards is undeniably evident to those around her.
With eight seasons of experience to her name, Hosking has remained a key driver in cultivating an inclusive environment and fostering training habits.
Brennan said she was "incredibly honoured, proud and humbled" to continue to lead the group.
"I love you all so much. As athletes, I'm your biggest fan, but as people, you're just a hell of a group and we've got a hell of a program. It's going to be our best year yet," Brennan said.
"Gabby has driven our people and program forward, and our football club forward, with just her will and she's always getting better. You see Gabby lift a weight and it inspires you to want to be better by the way that she leads be example, but she's also challenging people and bringing people along with her.
"Tessa didn't step a foot on the field last year, but she had so much influence on our group through training sessions and on game day when she had that headset on. She's an Olympian, she has a wealth of knowledge in what it means to be a professional athlete, and she's just a top person with unbelievable values.
"We're all incredibly proud of Monique's journey, not only as a player and the best in the competition, but as a person and a leader. I've had the group honour of watching her for the last eight years now just grow, and she's growing enormously by the moment. She leads us out on the field week in, week out.
"When I think about the word belonging, I think about Sarah, and how she creates that for all of us, not only players but staff and anyone who walks in our four walls. She's been a real leader."
Richmond 2024 AFLW Leadership Group:
Kate Brennan (captain)
Gabby Seymour (vice-captain)
Tessa Lavey (vice-captain)
Monique Conti
Sarah Hosking
