The 28-year-old, who is about to enter his fifth season at the club, was voted into the nine-man leadership group by his peers at the club’s recent camp in Coffs Harbour.
McGlynn joins co-captains Jarrad McVeigh and Kieren Jack, as well as Adam Goodes, Ted Richards, Nick Smith, Rhyce Shaw, Josh Kennedy and Ryan O’Keefe, in what will be his first leadership position in his eight-year AFL career.
Speaking to SwansTV about his new role, the 125-game player said he was extremely proud to have been voted in by his peers as a club leader.
“I’m very pleased,” McGlynn said.
“I set myself this pre-season to go that next step with my leadership and to become a leader of the club.
“I obviously felt a part of this group the first time I walked in here and it’s my fifth season now, so it feels great to be seen in that light from the players.
“It’s definitely an honour and I’m looking forward to it.”
While an official position in the leadership group is new for McGlynn, he is no stranger to setting a positive example for the club’s younger players.
McGlynn, who was a senior mentor for Harry Cunningham in 2013 and also worked with young forward Brandon Jack in his debut season, said he intended to continue his work with the club’s youth and would not make drastic changes to the way he went about his business despite his new role.
“I’m just going to continue to build relationships with the younger guys,” he said.
“I feel the strongest part of my leadership skills is by leading by example with the way I train and on game day with the way I play.
“I’m probably going to be more of a leader that way for the younger guys rather than barking orders.”
McGlynn said he would take guidance from the club’s long-term leaders, including Goodes and McVeigh, as well as team mate and fellow leader, Josh Kennedy.
“Obviously Adam Goodes is always someone who leads by example and he’s a great role model for all ages in the group - the younger guys and the older guys,” he said.
“Jarrad McVeigh has been one who has helped me over the summer and Josh Kennedy as well who was added in (to the leadership group) last year, I’m very tight with him.
“I’ve got a lot of blokes around me who have been helping me with my leadership skills and hopefully I can bring a bit to the group.
“They are very honest and are a great leadership group, so it’s great to be a part of that.”
