West Coast are set to separate voting on the captaincy from the decision over the rest of the leadership group, preferring to install Shannon Hurn’s successor as quickly as possible.

Midfielder Luke Shuey could be confirmed as the Eagles’ new captain as soon as this week, with a vote on the overall leadership group delayed until the new year.

Coach Adam Simpson all but guaranteed the club would stick with having a sole captain.

“I think we’re pretty keen on (having) one man. It’s not to say that dual captaincy doesn’t work, but I think we collectively prefer the one,” Simpson told 6PR.

WHO ARE THE LEADING CAPTAINCY CONTENDERS?

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FANS SAY SHUEY IS THE MAN FOR THE JOB

ANALYSIS: HURN’S TIMING PERFECT AS ALWAYS

“I suppose what we might do is we’ll source out who the next captain is and perhaps the vice-captain or captains and then we’ll work on the leadership group in the coming weeks and months.

“Just purely it’s the start of pre-season and some of the guys we’ve got coming back may want to really work hard on their presence around the club and what kind of leadership they can pass on to the other players.

“The immediate decision we need to make is who’s going to lead the club in 2020 and we’ll make that call probably in the short term.”

Camera Icon Will Luke Shuey replace Shannon Hurn as Eagles skipper? Credit: AAPIMAGE

Simpson said the decision regarding Hurn handing over the leadership had been well thought out.

“We’ve been talking for a while, probably even this time last year,” Simpson said.

“I thought it was a bit of a joint discussion, but in the end it was Shannon’s call and I think he’s made a really selfless decision because you give up a lot when you give up the captaincy.

“The way he handled himself today with the players and what he’s done for our club, it’s reflective of who he is as a leader and how he’s gone about it.”