Lions at odds over skipper

DAYNE Zorko says Hugh McCluggage is the “perfect fit” to replace him as Brisbane captain but Lions great Jason Akermanis believes Lachie Neale is the “obvious choice” to be the club’s new skipper.

Zorko, 34, on Tuesday said he had stood down as Lions captain, a role he held since midway through 2018 when replacing Dayne Beams.

The Lions will vote on their new leader in the coming weeks, with star trio Neale, McCluggage and Harris Andrews reportedly the frontrunners for the job.

Zorko, however, nominated midfielder McCluggage (pictured).

“Hugh for me is the one that probably has the ability to do it,” Zorko told SENQ’s Pat and Heals show on Wednesday.

“Whether maybe he’s a little bit too raw at the moment or he wants to find his feet a little bit more, that’s a decision the club will have to make. For me, he would be the perfect fit.”

Triple-premiership winner Akermanis also mentioned McCluggage, 24, as a candidate but preferred fellow Brownlow medallist Neale for the captaincy role.

“There’s an obvious choice for the new captain, and that’s Lachie Neale,” Akermanis said.

“He’s been there for a few years now, he’s already a leader in the team, he’s won a Brownlow Medal and came very close to winning another one.

“Your captain needs to be in your top five players.”

Former Lions co-captain Simon Black, also a three-time premiership winner and Brownlow medallist, said 29year-old Neale was the logical choice if an older skipper was appointed.

However, he pointed to younger trio McCluggage, Andrews and Jarrod Berry as “long-term” captaincy options.