DEFENDERS Ted Richards and Nick Smith - products of Melbourne private schools Xavier and Scotch College - have been added to the Sydney Swans' leadership group for the upcoming season.

Adam Goodes and Jarrad McVeigh, who shared the co-captaincy duties last season, will again fill that role after again being voted in by the playing group.

The leadership group has been expanded to nine.

Tadhg Kennelly's retirement meant the group was one down on last season and the players voted to elevate his fellow defenders Richards and Smith to leadership positions.

Not content with just being added to the leadership group, young defender Smith says he wants to have a "real impact" on the future fortunes of the AFL club.

While Smith remains somewhat under the radar outside of Sydney, the Swans are well aware of his leadership qualities and he has no intention of simply making up the numbers among the club's leaders.

Smith captained both the football and cricket teams when he was at school at Scotch College in Melbourne, where he was also a prefect.

And he has now been added to the Swans' nine-man leadership group with his approach to his craft catching the attention of his teammates.

"He goes about his business extremely professionally and he's done that since day one," said Jude Bolton, another member of the leadership group that also includes Ryan O'Keefe, Rhyce Shaw, Kieren Jack and Jarred Moore.

"I guess we have a bit of a road map about how we want to improve as players and he just follows that to a tee.

"He does all his preparation on his opponents and there's no doubt why he ends up beating those guys; he's so competitive.

"His attention to detail, he's meticulous, he leaves no stone unturned to just be a better player and that's why he's been voted into the leadership group."

A considered, level-headed character, Smith's resume in 2011 includes the scalps of Steve Johnson, Eddie Betts and Stephen Milne, among others.

And he wants to make the most of the opportunity that has been presented.

"You get selected in it, but if you don't do anything and don't try to have an impact on the group and make us improve, it doesn't mean much," Smith said.

"I aim to keep doing what I've been doing here because I got selected in it because of what I've been doing.

"I guess I've always had ambitions to be in the leadership group, you have more of a say in where the club's going and can hopefully [help us] improve a bit more and make us win more matches ultimately."

The Swans are renowned for their strong leaders, a situation that evolved when Stuart Maxfield was forced to retire during the 2005 season.

That led to the Swans rotating six players through the captaincy for the remainder of that season before retaining at least two co-captains every year since.

It was suggested to coach John Longmire on Tuesday that nine might be too many for the leadership group.

West Coast has 10 in its group this season, however, with Hawthorn also having nine and St Kilda, Greater Western Sydney, Carlton and Melbourne all boasting eight.

"We don't have a pre-conceived idea of numbers," Longmire said.

"It's really about the players sitting down and looking at our behaviours and where we feel we can improve.

"We think we've got a good group and have had a good group of leaders here for a long period of time.

"We're introducing another two to the leadership group here who will get a taste of it and we think that's great for the club."

The new leadership group will have its first hit-out on Friday when the Swans take on Geelong and St Kilda in the NAB Cup at Etihad Stadium.

James Dampney covers Sydney AFL news for AFL.com.au. Follow him on Twitter: @AFL_JD