The growth of West Coast Eagles defender Shannon Hurn and forward Josh Kennedy was recognised today when they were elevated to leadership roles for the 2010 season.

Hurn, runner-up to Darren Glass in the 2009 Club Champion Award, and Kennedy were recognised by both their teammates and the club’s match committee, further confirming their emergence within the group.

Glass has also retained the captaincy, with Beau Waters, Dean Cox, Matt Priddis and Adam Selwood rounding out the leadership group.

“The elevation of Shannon and Josh is indicative of their standing within the squad,” senior coach John Worsfold said. “As we have done for the last three years, the leadership group was formed around a number of criteria as viewed by the players and the match committee.

“All players are marked in those areas and the highest ranked players then form the leadership group.

“Darren Glass has emerged as an outstanding captain in the last couple of seasons and the other six players offer him valuable support, but we do expect all of our players to be leaders in their own right.”

Hurn had a stand-out year in 2009 after having his 2008 season terminated by a fractured leg in round six. He was an important rebounding defender and would have been on the radar of the All-Australian selectors.

Kennedy, in his second year at the club, led by example on-field and was an outstanding contributor at centre half-forward. His fierce attack on the football has won him many admirers in his relatively short period of time at the club.

Waters, who won the Chris Mainwaring Medal this year despite not playing a game because of elbow surgery, Priddis, Cox and Selwood were all part of the leadership group last season. Hurn and Kennedy have been promoted as replacements in that group for the retired Tyson Stenglein.