Adelaide captain Taylor Walker was in attendance, but three other AFL skippers missed Thursday morning’s breakfast with the AFL Commission because of injury and personal reasons.

Walker, 27, flew to Melbourne for the Captains’ Day festivities despite battling a foot injury.

See the skippers’ predictions for Season 2018

The forward missed the event last year, with defender Daniel Talia taking his place.

West Coast captain Shannon Hurn failed to make the trip because of a back complaint, while Port Adelaide’s Travis Boak remained at home as he recovers from a hamstring injury.

Richmond premiership skipper Trent Cotchin attended a funeral and was also absent.

The trio will be missing when club captains face journalists at the League's annual captains' media call at Etihad Stadium on Thursday afternoon, but the three clubs will still be represented.  

The Power have Boak listed 'as to be assessed' on his availability for the Round One clash with Fremantle and the Power will be represented on Thursday by vice-captain Ollie Wines.  

Still gleaming from singing 'Mr Brightside' with The Killers after the Tigers' flag win, Jack Riewoldt will be charming the media as he steps in for Cotchin.

Hurn has been replaced by vice-captain Andrew Gaff.

"We played on Sunday, he just pulled up a little sore, and we just didn't want to be getting him on a flight," Eagles coach Adam Simpson told AFL.com.au

"It's actually a pretty big trip to come over just for half a day to do some press conferences, so we took the next best option with 'Gaffy'."