Who is in your club’s leadership group for the 2018 AFL season?

EASTON Wood had the best possible credentials to take over the Western Bulldogs captaincy from Bob Murphy. But there is one very surprising name in the Dogs’ new leadership group.

Easton Wood leads the Bulldogs out in the 2016 AFL Grand Final. Picture: Michael Klein

THE Western Bulldogs have named Easton Wood their new captain.

Wood succeeds Bob Murphy, who retired at the end of the 2017 season.

He has the best possible resume for the job, lifting the premiership cup as acting captain last year when Murphy suffered a serious knee injury.

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He stepped back when Murphy returned this season.

“I feel like I’ve been pretty fortunate to have had a great lead-in into it when Bob went down, but still having that support there for him to guide me through it,” Wood said today.

“I couldn’t have had a better apprenticeship. It’s exciting to have that challenge and opportunity to keep growing.”

Easton Wood, Marcus Bontempelli and Lachie Hunter are all part of the Bulldogs’ new leadership group. Picture: Michael Klein

Wood leads a new-look leadership group made up of vice-captain Marcus Bontempelli, Lachie Hunter, Jason Johannisen, Jordan Roughead and Jack Redpath.

The group was voted on by the Bulldogs players.

Redpath is the surprise pick. He has played just 34 games including nine this year after returning from knee surgery mid-season.

Long-time leadership group member Dale Morris will step aside from official leadership duties next season.

Coach Luke Beveridge described Wood as “selfless, caring, always puts the team and the club first, and is the ultimate professional”.

“Easton provides inspiration on and off the field and stimulates all of us to reach new heights on both a personal level and as a team,” Beveridge said.