Over pre-season training Geelong’s skipper handed over the responsibilities and duties from the leadership group to a number of upcoming and talented Cats.

The six young Cats chosen for the job were, Cam Guthrie, George Horlin-Smith, Mitch Duncan, Allen Christensen, Nathan Vardy and Steven Motlop.

Despite having guidance from both Joel Selwood and Harry Taylor, Selwood says as far as the club is concerned the above Cats are the one and only leadership group.

“That’s been the leadership group. We never like to call it a second-tier leadership group and that’s what I said to them from the start – if you want to make decisions on what we do now, then we make them and we make sure that we go through with them,” Selwood told News Limited.

According to Selwood their six emerging leaders have made some influential decisions over the summer that have helped the Cats develop as a team.

“They’ve done some great things and I think the groups grown by having those guys involved.”

“They understand that it’s men’s business. It is a little bit unfair that we ask them as kids to grow up so quick but they have to do it.”

The current leadership group will remain for the Cats next NAB Challenge against Melbourne. This will give the guys more pre-game experience before the 2014 leadership group is chosen.

Last year’s leadership group was Selwood, vice captain Jimmy Bartel, Harry Taylor, James Kelly, Steve Johnson, Andrew Mackie and Tom Hawkins.

“We’ll have a vote coming up shortly to finalise what the 2014 leadership group will look like, but we’ll probably wait until after the Melbourne game so the guys can just get the game experience as being the leadership group and how you receive the game and what goes on within the footy club’s organisation,” Selwood explained.

Over the past few months Selwood believes he has seen some positive signs from the group. Some instantly took to the reins like future leaders and others developed at a steadier pace.

“I have. Just the way different guys like doing different things. Of that group there are guys that are better than others at it right now, but it’s given them a taste that if they like it, they’re not that far off and they need to do it pretty soon.”

“We saw the way that Cam Guthrie played the other night (against Collingwood), Mitch Duncan, so they understand that performance has got to come with it a little bit which is really important because it makes them feel comfortable.”

Another player that stood out to Selwood was Nathan Vardy, who was unfortunately cut from the 2014 season after rupturing his ACL last Saturday.

“We saw him grow up from his hip, mature and become a better person from the scare of finishing his footy career.”