Richmond has revealed its playing leadership group for the 2015 season, with defender Steve Morris added to the five-man group.

Morris joins Trent Cotchin, Troy Chaplin, Ivan Maric and Brett Deledio in the official leadership group, which lost a member at the end of the 2014 season after the retirement of Daniel Jackson.

Richmond coach Damien Hardwick made the announcement at the Club’s 2014 Annual General Meeting, held tonight at the ME Bank Centre.

Morris was voted in by the playing group, with Trent Cotchin endorsed to enter his third season as Club captain.

Renew or join as a Richmond member for the 2015 season

Since arriving at Tigerland at the end of 2011, Morris has become a dependable, hard-nosed defender on-field, and a strong leader off it.

Hardwick said that while it is important to have an official leadership group to continue to drive the Club’s standards, it was incumbent on all players to lead in their own way.

“This group was decided upon by the players, and it is acknowledgement of the important role they play in driving standards and communications between the playing group and the rest of the Club,” he said.

“However, it is worth pointing out that we are developing and driving leadership development across our entire playing group.

“A lot gets made of leadership groups, and while they have a role to play, I am sure each of those players would be the first to say that everyone needs to take on responsibility for leading, whether they have the title or not. 

“That will be critical to us improving as a group.”