PORT Adelaide skipper Dom Cassisi has called on young stars Travis Boak and Jackson Trengove to help fill the leadership void left by retiring veterans Dean Brogan and Chad Cornes next season.
Brogan, a former vice-captain and regular member of the club's leadership group, will play his 174th and final game when the Power hosts Melbourne at Adelaide Oval on Sunday.
Cornes, who retired last month, wasn't part of the official leadership group this year but had previously held the vice-captaincy and long been regarded as a 'spiritual leader' at Alberton.
Port Adelaide expanded its leadership group from a traditional three-man model last year to include nine players - Cassisi, Brogan, Boak, Trengove, Alipate Carlile, Jay Schulz, Troy Chaplin, Steven Salopek and Jacob Surjan - this season, but the majority of the responsibility stayed with experienced heads Cassisi and Brogan.
Brogan assumed captaincy duties when Cassisi suffered a broken leg against West Coast in round two, and the Power skipper said he would need some extra help next season.
"'Broges' and I are not only really close mates, but we use each other as a sounding board and speak most nights about the group," Cassisi said.
"I'm really going to miss him next year, as will all the players, because he's got such a strong presence.
"Jackson and 'Boaky', as young as they are, are two guys in particular that I've already had a chat to.
"I've told them I want to use them as a sounding board and really try and get them involved.
"They seem up to it and really keen to step up. I know both of them have leadership aspirations and they are the two standouts."
Trengove, the youngest-ever member of Port Adelaide's leadership group, sat shaking his head when he was mentioned as a future captain of the club at a press conference to announce his re-signing a fortnight ago.
"I don’t know where you guys [in the media] get that from," Trengove said.
"I'm a second-year player."
But Brogan backed the 20-year-old to step up as early as next year, saying he was capable of lifting the other members of the leadership group, who have struggled for form this season.
"I've had a chat with 'Jacko' and said, 'Dom's going to need you next year'," Brogan said.
"He's got great leadership skills and he's super competitive.
"There are opportunities there for guys to take not only on the field, but off the field and that's going to be so important.
"We're going to get even more young guys in next year and Dom is going to need help because Chad and I won't be there any more.
"A lot of our more senior guys have been down on form this year, so the young guys like 'Jacko' and 'Boaky' really have to push them along and get themselves up to a leadership standard."
Katrina Gill covers Port Adelaide news for afl.com.au. Follow her on Twitter: @AFL_KatrinaGill
