Zach Merrett and Joe Daniher in mix to captain Essendon if Brendon Goddard misses with groin injury

ESSENDON will consider trusting Zach Merrett or Joe Daniher with the captaincy on Sunday if leader Brendon Goddard misses with a groin injury.

Zach Merrett could captain Essendon next week. Picture: Michael Klein

ESSENDON will consider trusting Zach Merrett or Joe Daniher with the captaincy on Sunday if leader Brendon Goddard misses with a groin injury.

Coach John Worsfold on Sunday night said he’d be “more than comfortable” to throw the title to Merrett, 20, who is in just his third AFL season.

Goddard injured his groin in the first quarter of Sunday’s 66-point loss to Geelong and Worsfold said the diagnosis was not yet known.

The 15.10 (100) to 4.10 (34) defeat was Essendon’s lowest score in 158 games at Etihad Stadium.

The bulk of the Bombers leaders are serving drugs bans and Goddard’s vice-captain — Mark Baguley — is recovering from a nasty knee injury.

“It’s (who will captain) a very good question,” Worsfold said.

“We’ve got (David) Zaharakis and we’ve got Joe Daniher and Zachy Merrett.

Zach Merrett could captain Essendon if Brendon Goddard misses next week with injury. Picture: Michael Klein

“We’ll talk about what we think is going to be best for the group in terms of next week.

“But in terms of leadership those guys have been outstanding all year … in driving the standards.

“They’ll all be expected to do the same, just that one will toss the coin next week.

“Don’t expect too much more than what they’ve been doing otherwise.”

Marcus Bontempelli — drafted in 2013 with Merrett — became the youngest ever victorious captain in VFL-AFL history when he skippered the Western Bulldogs in Round 11.

Former Cat James Kelly arrived at the ground just 30 minutes before the bounce after battling traffic on the Westgate but was the Dons’ best with 26 disposals.

Worsfold flagged that top 10 draft pick Aaron Francis could be rested or given a run in the VFL after encountering “pretty serious signs of fatigue” on Sunday.

Cats legend Cameron Ling declared the game “the definition of bruise-free footy” and Worsfold was unsure why the tackle count (49-37 to the Dons) was so low.

Brendon Goddard was injured early in Essendon’s loss to Geelong. Picture: Getty

Worsfold said the scoreline was unjust after the Cats slotted the final three goals but was proud of the way his side’s hard running in the last term.

“I don’t think it was a walk in the park for them,” he said.

“We had our opportunities in the last quarter. We matched them I thought other than the class to finish off.”

On Goddard, Worsfold said: “Sore groin, obviously couldn’t finish the game so my guess is that he’s strained something, which would put him in doubt next week.”

The Bombers face Gold Coast, Western Bulldogs and Carlton to finish the season and another three losses would lock in the club’s first No.1 draft pick in history.

Originally published as Zach Merrett and Joe Daniher in mix to captain Essendon if Brendon Goddard misses with groin injury