Patrick Cripps & Sam Docherty Named Carlton Co-Captains

Carlton will have joint AFL captains for the first time in their 154-year history, appointing Patrick Cripps and Sam Docherty to the role.

Current captain Marc Murphy handed over to the pair on Friday night at the club's best and fairest awards function.

Cripps, 23, earned All-Australian honours for the first time this season and was fourth in the Brownlow Medal count, despite the Blues finishing bottom.

Docherty, 25, missed all this season because of knee reconstruction after making last year's All-Australian team.

"Clearly the joint captaincy is a new direction for the club, but both Crippa and I have sat down and had really honest chats about how we're going to take this group forward together," Docherty said.

"Despite our various differences in personality and approaches to leadership, we complement each other well and the main thing for us is our common goal to take this club back to sustained success.".

Cripps is one of the league's top onballers and Docherty is a crucial member of Carlton's defence.

"This honour is incredibly special," Cripps said.

"When I was standing in for Murph earlier this year as captain, he was fantastic in that he reminded me to just stay true to yourself.

"He's been such a mentor for us and been great with advice.

"Next year, he will continue to have a strong leadership presence within the group and he will be someone both 'Doc' and I continue to use as a mentor and confidant."

Murphy, Carlton's captain for the last six years, said Cripps and Docherty were natural selections to take over as skippers.

Coach Brendon Bolton added it was a unanimous choice.

"We felt it right to make the dual appointment," Bolton said.

"It's a new direction we're heading in with the structure, but one I believe will strongly benefit our young playing group in years to come."

- AAP