BRISBANE Lions midfielder Tom Rockliff says the club has developed new leaders this summer and has a range of options if it decides on a new skipper for 2017.

Rockliff has led the Lions for the past two seasons, but the Lions may look for a new leader after coach Chris Fagan declared the position was up for grabs.

Rockliff said he would gladly step aside if someone else was better suited to taking on the role, and a number of players had embraced the idea of taking on leadership roles.

"If it's not me, (I'll) support whoever it is," Rockliff told Melbourne radio station SEN.

"I think it's important these days that you have a really strong leadership group and I think the days of having one person (are over).

"With Leading Teams coming onboard, it's been a really good process for us to go through as a playing group.

"The player empowerment (gives us) a real say on the direction of where we want to get to."

Rockliff identified 2016 club champion Dayne Zorko as a candidate for the captaincy, as well as midfielder Dayne Beams and experienced Stefan Martin, the only player on the list aged 30 or over, while a new generation had also put up their hands.

"Stefan Martin is one who's put his hand up and shown some real leadership this pre-season where probably in the past – and by his own admission – he's just gone about his own business," he said.

"He's got some real care for this group and where it's heading.

"Dayne Zorko could easily captain an AFL club and Dayne Beams is the same.

“And you look at our next generation of leaders, Harris Andrews is one that really stands out from that young group that is coming through – he’s only 20 or 21-year-old.

“What he’s been able to achieve in only two years of senior footy is really exciting.”

Rockliff said he was enjoying an "honest" relationship with Fagan, who has been fullsome in his praise of the midfielder.

Fagan has last month: “I’ve got to say, in regards to Tom, a lot was said about him last year.

“I wasn’t here at the club. I can only judge him on how I’ve found him since I’ve been here.

“He’s been fantastic around the group, he’s trained hard, he’s been a leader around the club and been very supportive of me in my first few months here.

Rockliff told SEN: “Chris was really open with me and I was really open with him and we had a really good conversation.

"From then on it's been a really good relationship and probably the most honest one.

"We had those conversations, I think they needed to be had, and we've put them to bed and moved on.

"I've just gone about my business and no doubt I've changed a couple of things."

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