CHAMPION midfielder Joel Selwood will lead Geelong once again after the club announced at its season launch on Wednesday night he would be Cats captain for the sixth consecutive season in 2017. 

The 28-year-old's brother Scott will join him in the eight-man leadership group for the first time with 24-year-old Cam Guthrie also making his debut in the group.

Selwood was vice-captain of West Coast before joining the Cats as a free agent at the end of the 2015 season while Guthrie emerged as a midfielder in 2016 in his sixth season at the club.

Harry Taylor, Patrick Dangerfield, Tom Hawkins, Mitch Duncan and Mark Blicavs round out the Cats' leadership group for the year. 

Taylor and Dangerfield will both be vice-captains with Dangerfield moving into the role after winning the Brownlow Medal and club best and fairest in 2016, his first year at the Cats after crossing from Adelaide.

Joel Selwood has had a rough month with the TAC deciding not to renew their sponsorship deal with the Cats after he lost his licence for speeding last month, becoming the seventh player in 10 seasons to record a driving offence.

However his position has captain was not questioned for one moment, as he is a respected leader at the club and in the wider AFL community. 

Selwood said he was excited about what lay ahead in 2017 after the Cats finished third in 2016. 

"To have a larger leadership group with a range of ages and experience is a step in the right direction," Selwood said.

"Cam [Guthrie] comes onboard the player leadership group after a breakout season last year. He is well respected by his teammates and will be a great addition to the group. 

"Scott [Selwood] is also a fantastic addition. He will utilise his experience from his time as vice-captain at West Coast to be a great leader at Geelong." 

The Cats open their season against Fremantle at Domain Stadium in round one.

Geelong also elevated Charles Brownlow and Peter Burns to legend status at the Cats, with the pair becoming the club's 23rd and 24th club legends. 

Burns' career was well underway when the VFL competition began in 1897 while Brownlow is the best-known administrator in the game's history with the medal to honour the fairest and best player in each season bearing his name.  

The induction caps a remarkable 24 hours for Burns, who was also named a Bloods Legend on Tuesday night at Sydney's hall of fame dinner.