A great leader often leads by example.

For Ellie McKenzie, that is exactly how she plans on helping her team reach success in 2026 in her first year as co-captain.

“I think my biggest strength is my football IQ, so out on game day, I think that's probably where I shine the most,” McKenzie told Richmond Media.

“I'm hoping I'll be able to direct the group, and something that KB (Katie Brennan) has done really well is stand up in big moments. I think that's something I'll aspire to do for the group.”

After two seasons in the side’s leadership group, McKenzie has been voted in by her peers to co-captain the team alongside Gabby Seymour.

The 23-year-old is honoured to captain Richmond and believes she is ready for the challenges that come with the role.

“It’s obviously a massive honour and probably not something I saw happening in my career so early,” McKenzie said.

“I think it's one of the biggest honours you can have in football to be voted in by your peers and the staff as well, so I'm over the moon with the result and to be surrounded with so many good leaders as well.

“I know I've got a lot of room to grow and learn. I’m only in my second year as an official leader, but to do it alongside Gabby, I think we're going to work really well together.

“We're both very different leaders, so I think together we'll be able to have a united front and really support this new group we've got coming forward, and a new program too.”

After seven seasons, long-standing captain Brennan stepped aside, allowing both McKenzie and Seymour to lead the group.

Brennan was the longest-serving captain in AFLW history, and a leader who inspired McKenzie throughout her career.

“Katie is the ultimate professional,” McKenzie said.

“I always said, the person who was going to step into that role had really big shoes to fill, and it happened to be Gab and I.

“No one's better than KB in that space, and even with the injury setbacks she's had, that's something I've really looked to her for.

“Similar for me, having some injuries in my career, she's just the ultimate professional, and she steps up in the big moments too, which I think is probably the most important thing as a leader.”

With many new faces entering the program for 2026, both players and coaches, McKenzie has taken positives from how well the group has bonded together this pre-season.

“It's been really exciting, just to have a fresh start, and I think the game plan that Jarrad [Donders] is implementing is going to be really good for us going forward,” she said.

“It's keeping up with the trends of AFLW and probably something we haven't seen before, so I think that's the most exciting part.

“Everyone's really enjoying the learning process, and even the girls who have been around for a longer time are really finding that they're developing and learning on the go.”

Richmond will start its 2026 campaign against Collingwood on August 15 at IKON Park.