Dyson Heppell named Essendon captain for 2017
UPDATE: JOBE Watson was a candidate for the Essendon captaincy but pushed for a new generation of Bombers leaders led by new skipper Dyson Heppell.
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JOBE Watson was a candidate for the Essendon captaincy, but the club believed the time was right for change.
Star midfielder Dyson Heppell was yesterday confirmed as the club’s new captain, assuming the mantle from Watson and 2016 caretaker Brendon Goddard.
Cale Hooker and Zach Merrett will be Heppell’s vice-captains.
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Essendon coach John Worsfold confirmed Watson, who led the club for six years before last year’s doping suspension, had been willing to take on the role.
But he added both Watson and the club felt the time was right for a new direction, with 24-year-old Heppell ready to step into the role.
“Jobe was very articulate in saying that he would be more than happy to lead the club if that was felt the best situation for the club this year,’’ Worsfold said.
“As you’d expect from someone of Jobe’s experience and stature, it wasn’t just around ‘What’s good for me’, he was looking at what’s good for the club and the playing group.
“Jobe was a candidate, he was happy to take on the leadership if we felt it was critical that he still did the role.
“But where we’re at and what we are aiming to achieve going forward, we felt it was the ideal time to have Dyson in as skipper and to have Jobe and Brendon Goddard still in that leadership group to be those senior wise heads for whenever Dyson wants to bounce things off.’’
Watson and Goddard remain in the club’s seven-man leadership group, which also includes Michael Hurley and Joe Daniher.
Heppell, who steps into the captaincy after a year out of the game, said Watson had been a great mentor, but promised to bring his own “authenticity” to the role.
“I’ve had multiple conversations with Jobe over the last few years and he has been a great mentor for me, I have learned a lot off him and also Brendon Goddard as well, two very different leaders,’’ Heppell said.
“I’ve learned a lot from them, but I’ll bring my own authenticity to this leadership role.
“He was very supportive of me, I had a good chat with him last night and it was fantastic for him to hand the captaincy to me this morning as well.’’
Watson and Heppell are among 10 Bombers returning from last year’s doping ban, arising from the club’s supplements scandal.
Coming off what he described as his “strongest” pre-season to date, Heppell said he had no doubts about the impact the returning Bombers players could have on the field this year.
“I’m extremely confident that we can have a great impact at AFL level this year,’’ Heppell said.
“Obviously put in a really strict program last year and coming back we have been monitored really well by the fitness staff and the coaching group and we have been hitting plenty of bodies, getting that physical contact back in.
“So with the elite staff we have here I have know doubt that we’ll be fine in getting through the rigours of an AFL season.’’
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