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Pav not ready to hand over reins

Fremantle skipper Matthew Pavlich says he is not a believer of club leaders giving up the captaincy before their careers are over.

The 32-year-old has been appointed as the Dockers captain for an eighth successive year.

The six-times club champion said he did not buy into the perception of handing over the leadership mantle to play out the final year or two of a career without the burden attached to the role.

"I'm not really in that mind of thinking," he said.

"I don't really subscribe to that theory. The leader's the leader, really … I'm not really thinking that far ahead to be frank."

Former North Melbourne skipper Brent Harvey is among players who have given up the captaincy and played on.

The 35-year-old stepped down from the role at the end of the 2012 season and is now extending his career into an incredible 19th AFL season.

Pavlich managed just 12 matches last season - the fewest out of any year in his 291-game career - and has yet to make a decision about whether to play on beyond 2014.

He admitted to some self analysis about whether he should take on the captaincy again this year, but said in the end it had been a "no brainer".

"You need to make sure your own game's in order," he said.

"Being able to influence and assist your other teammates as well and handle the other commitments that come along with that (is crucial).

"Once I'd made that decision and once I had the full support of the group, it was a no brainer in that sense."