KC Edmonds and Dylan Lake to co-captain Gunnedah Bulldogs in 2022 Group 4 season

Dylan Lake and KC Edmonds will share the captaincy role under coach Mick Schmiedel.

Along with youth, Schmiedel said both players possessed a key leadership attribute.

"They lead by example," Schmiedel said.

"They're two good kids that people follow - they follow their actions on the paddock and they're both well respected."

The pair take over from Reece Jaeger who initially was going to be playing alongside the two new captains but Schmiedel said he was now leaving town.

"I'm a believer of leaving places in better positions than when you came," Schmiedel said.

"I had a chat to Reece about it, and there's nothing wrong with his captaincy. I think he's an excellent captain but we were going to take advantage of having him there mentoring these two young fellas into their full time captaincy roles. But he's decided to move on and go to Sydney now."

Jaeger won't be the only loss for the Bulldogs with Schmiedel confirming Hayden Jaeger, Aaron Donnelly and Zak Turnbull were all moving away as well.

The coach said the club had enough depth to cover for the losses.

"I don't stress about what I don't have and the players know that," Schmiedel told The Leader.

"As much as I'd like them all to stay, worrying about what's not there means you're not putting the energy into the people that are there."

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Schmiedel also expects to see a number of juniors move up into first grade at some point in 2022.

"Charlie Lawrence will get a bit more first grade time - we blooded him last year," Schmiedel said.

"Then there's Ryan Kelly-Payne, he's out of 18s this year and he'll probably get a look at first grade.

"Braydon Talbott-Hatch is another one to consider and Bailey Swain, so there's some good kids coming out of the 18s."

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