Hawthorn captain Jarryd Roughead withdraws, Isaac Smith and Liam Shiels are expected to dispute the role

Roughead was elected captain just months after winning the fight against a melanoma that had spread to his lungs, but wants to focus on his own form.

This four – time, 31 – year – old prime minister star will be playing next year, but not before the uncertainty about her role as he and coach Alastair Clarkson were working on his future.

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Roughead is under contract for next year and is determined to stand out after 34.24 shots in a year with a handful of flat points but some great games.

Smith and Shiels are badistant vice captains in a group of leaders including Jack Gunston and Ben Stratton.

This group is elected by a vote of the players, but Smith and Shiels would be the obvious candidates to win and perpetuate the legacy of Hawks captains Luke Hodge, Sam Mitchell and Roughead.

Tom Mitchell and Jaeger O'Meara are candidates for integration into the Leaders Group, but Shiels has long been considered a future Hawks captain despite his lack of external recognition.

Roughead is one of the most popular characters in the game after his public fight against melanoma, which at one point threatened his life.

But at age 31, and with speculation regarding his place in the team, he would surely step up if he started the season slowly, it was the perfect time to hand over the captaincy.

"Being a captain is a big responsibility and I think the best thing for the team right now is that I focus on my own game and make the best of myself in the field." said Roughead.

"Of course, I will always be there to support whoever will take the next role, but I think the club is ready to be led by a new player."

Hawks coach Graham Wright said it was Roughead's decision to move on after a season in which he scored five goals in two finals.

The Hawks managed to finish the year with a double chance, but despite a two-set start, they have a bright future ahead of new coach Clarkson.

"When" Rough "told us of his intention to step out of the role and focus on his feet, he benefited from our full support," Wright said.

"With" Rough ", we will take the opportunity to evaluate our leadership model and decide on the best process for naming the new captain.

"We are going to spend the pre-season exploring this and at the end of the process we will name the next captain of our club."

Roughead acknowledged that late in the year he could have better managed speculation about his future, but that he was not hesitant to honor the last season of his contract.

"As long as I'm still doing what I can this weekend, it means I can still contribute to this camp and play," he told the Herald Sun.

"I'm only 31 years old, it's not like I'm long in the tooth: I do not have any hair and I've been hurt many times in the last two years, so I'm starting to be used to play at high speed.