Sydney Swans

The shock call comes after co-captains Jarrad McVeigh and Kieran Jack stepped aside from the role after several years at the helm. 

McVeigh and Jack will remain in the club’s leadership group alongside Nick Smith and Heath Grundy, while Dan Hannebery, Luke Parker and Dane Rampe named vice-captains. 

Kennedy claimed his third Sydney best and fairest in 2016 after an outstanding year filled with accolades, and has recommitted to the club until the end of 2020. 

Sydney coach John Longmire and Bulldogs boss Luke Beveridge fronted the media just over 24 hours before the ball is set to be bounced in the season's defining game, with a commitment to team structures and a "harder for longer" mantra the common theme.

The Swans' last two finals, big wins over Adelaide and Geelong, have featured blistering opening quarters that have all but ended the game before the half-time siren, but Longmire knows that will not be enough against the resilient Dogs.

Goodes 35, made a low-key exit from the game he has graced since 1999, announcing his retirement to team-mates in the sheds after Saturday's semi-final home loss to North Melbourne.

He eschewed the fanfare of an emotional public farewell out on the field and the chance to be chaired off the ground, like retiring team-mate Rhyce Shaw.

At the end of an epic career and tumultuous season, Goodes leaves the game having chalked up 372 appearances, the eighth highest tally of all time and the most by an indigenous player.