FORMER St Kilda coach Grant Thomas has urged Collingwood to consider implementing a rotating captaincy policy to inspire a new generation of club leaders and get the best out of star midfielder Scott Pendlebury.

While the Magpies have yet to announce their leadership group for 2018, Pendlebury is being tipped to captain the club for a fifth season.

Despite the extra responsibility, Pendlebury has maintained an incredible level of consistency since taking over the reins from Nick Maxwell in 2014, averaging at least 28 disposals per game.

But Thomas, a huge believer in captaincy rotation, said Pendlebury had the potential to help the next Collingwood leader emerge and succeed, should coach Nathan Buckley decide to implement the leadership policy.

Round 18

“I think if Pendlebury has the leadership qualities that I see externally — and I think we all know — that’s the first thing about leadership is humility. The greatest leaders I know are the people who get the greatest sense of satisfaction in helping others to succeed rather than succeed yourself — that’s the first criteria of a successful leader,” Thomas told SEN Breakfast.

“If Pendlebury is a successful leader, well he will be very thrilled to help someone else be very successful leader.”

Scott Pendlebury has been Collingwood captain since 2014. Picture: David Crosling Source: News Corp Australia

During Thomas’ tenure as Saints coach during the mid-2000s, St Kilda was led by a variety of skippers, including Robert Harvey, Aaron Hamill, Luke Ball, Nick Riewoldt and Lenny Hayes.

Thomas said he couldn’t see any issues developing if Buckley was to approach Pendlebury to potentially relinquish the captaincy.

“I had a difficult convo with (Robert Harvey) right at the get-go because it was so radical and different and he probably had set his mind to do other things,” Thomas said.

“But once he understood and thought about it for a short period of time ... He came back to me and said ‘I actually think I know where you’re heading with this and I think it’s going to work’.”

Thomas said he had seen “lots of examples” over the years that vindicated his leadership rationale.

“When you’ve got one single leader, it’s great for that leader and he’s a good leader, but he’s not going to change anything. You get 40-odd players dovetailing in behind him — I don’t think that’s a healthy thing,” Thomas said.

“I like to see a broader leadership front, rather than a singular leadership front.”