Sydney have announced the addition of defenders Nick Smith and Ted Richards to an expanded leadership group that will again be headed by co-captains Adam Goodes and Jarrad McVeigh.
The Swans had a vacancy from last year following the retirement of 2005 premiership defender Tadhg Kennelly, and according to coach John Longmire the consistent efforts of Smith and Richards earned them their places in the group.
"The players vote on it, so they obviously saw enough in Nick and Ted's consistent performance and preparation for games to put them in the leadership group," Longmire said of Richards, a 156-gamer who finished fifth in last season's best and fairest and 52-gamer Smith, who was sixth.
"I think it's a great effort from both of them."
"They've been very reliable, solid defenders for us and lead by example in that part of the ground, which is good."
The other five members of the leadership group are Jude Bolton, Ryan O'Keefe, Rhyce Shaw, Kieren Jack and Jarred Moore, the latter retaining his place despite managing only three senior appearances in 2011.
"Regardless of whether he's in the firsts or the reserves, last year the way he prepared and kept encouraging others and all that, he just tries his absolute hardest week in and week out," Longmire said.
"That's something that the players see and he works hard at his game."
Longmire also had no hesitation having Goodes and McVeigh lead the way again in 2012.
"Jarrad obviously had a really difficult year last year for the whole year," Longmire said of McVeigh, whose four-week-old daughter died last season.
"Adam was terrific and I think they complement each other well."
"They've both got strengths and seem to match up well with each other. They work well together and closely, so I wasn't considering making a change."
"They're both experienced players, they both see the game really well and they're both really passionate about it."
"That's what we're after and that's terrific."