Zach Merrett enjoys taste of captaincy but backs Dyson Heppell to lead Essendon in 2017
ZACH Merrett phoned Joel Selwood for captaincy advice before leading Essendon to victory but still backs Dyson Heppell to captain the club next year.
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ESSENDON star Zach Merrett has backed Dyson Heppell to captain the club next season when he returns from a drugs ban.
Merrett phoned Geelong skipper Joel Selwood for leadership advice last Wednesday as he prepared for his debut as captain in Sunday’s thrilling win against Gold Coast.
The young midfielder replaced veteran Brendon Goddard, who has filled the void in 2016.
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Merrett collected a career-best 38 disposals in a best-afield display as the Bombers snapped a 17-game losing streak, the longest in club history.
Regular skipper Jobe Watson’s football future is still unclear with the 2012 Brownlow Medallist yet to commit to a return from his drugs suspension.
“It (Sunday’s game against the Suns) was a good taste for what the captaincy would be like,” Merrett told the Herald Sun.
“It’s a bit more stressful and a bit more worrying throughout the week.
“But I think Dyson Heppell is the man for next year. He’s done his apprenticeship last year and I think he’s ready to go.”
Heppell, 24, was named vice-captain for this season before the WADA wipe-out but led the Bombers superbly when Watson was injured last year.
Merrett, 20, sought Selwood’s number from teammate James Kelly while he has also tapped into dual Brownlow Medallist Chris Judd for regular advice on playing in the guts this season.
Merrett and Judd speak every few weeks with coach John Worsfold putting the gun Bomber in touch with his 2006 West Coast premiership captain.
Merrett is considered a lock for Essendon’s best-and-fairest this year and he made an impressive speech to the players before Sunday’s game.
“I had a pretty strong message at the start of the game just for the boys to enjoy it,” he said.
“We’ve only got two games left together now. James Kelly said in the rooms after the game we were trying to win the game instead of holding onto the game, which was great.
“It (captaining a win) means a lot. Working towards success at this footy club means a lot to myself and a stepping stone was having a crack at the captaincy and it was a good learning curve.
“Not only for myself but for Joe Daniher and David Zaharakis to stand up as well with so many leaders out. As a leadership group I thought we were fantastic.
“I think you just subconsciously worry more about your teammates and their performance and preparing everyone in a way that’s going to hold us up for the game.
“I tried to lead by actions and inspire my teammates.”
Merrett was chosen ahead of Zaharakis and Daniher to toss the coin but is expected to hand the reigns back to Goddard against the Western Bulldogs on Sunday.
“He generally handles every occasion pretty well,” Worsfold said of Merrett.
“He’s a quality young man, very clear on where he wants to go and he was excited about the opportunity and embraced being a leader on-field for the day.
Originally published as Zach Merrett enjoys taste of captaincy but backs Dyson Heppell to lead Essendon in 2017
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