Grant, who was drafted by the Magpies in the inaugural AFLW Draft with pick 91, has been named one of two vice-captains for the 2018 season.

Steph Chiocci will captain the Magpies, with Grant and midfielder Brittany Bonicci serving as her deputies.

Ruck Emma King, dual code athlete Ash Brazill and forward Christina Bernardi round out a six-player leadership group.

Grant, who won the Victorian Women’s Football League Premier Division league best and fairest in her final season with the Thunder in 2016, played in all seven games for the Magpies last season.

She and skipper Chiocci were  also teammates in the VFLW for Diamond Creek.

Magpies women’s football operations manager Mathew James acknowledged that a larger leadership group would better represent the Magpies in 2018.

“We’ve grown from a four-person leadership group to a team of six in 2018 because we think with the list we retained from last year, our new draftees and elite cross-code athletes, we need a leadership group that reflects the make-up of our team,” James said.

The Magpies finished the inaugural season in fifth place with a 3-4 record.