AFL: Dyson Heppell to captain Essendon for sixth-straight year, with Zach Merrett to serve as his vice-captain

Dyson Heppell will again captain Essendon, but the Bombers have made changes to their leadership support structure.

Dyson Heppell will captain Essendon for a sixth-straight year in 2022 at the head of a streamlined Bombers leadership group.

The 29-year-old first became skipper for the 2017 season, succeeding Brendon Goddard, and his vice-captain this time around will be triple Crichton medallist Zach Merrett.

Merrett shared the vice-captaincy last year with Michael Hurley and Andy McGrath, who is the deputy vice-captain this season, but now holds it in his own right.

That honour comes two years after the dual All-Australian was shockingly left out of the leadership group entirely after being vice-captain the previous three seasons.

Dyson Heppell (right) and Zach Merrett will be Essendon’s captain and vice-captain respectively for season 2022. Picture: AAP Image

Essendon’s explanation at the time was that Merrett’s peers rated others higher than him in various on- and off-field categories.

But the 26-year-old has clearly reasserted himself in that regard and positioned himself, along with McGrath, as Heppell’s likeliest successors.

Merrett set aside any unrest at the Bombers when he spurned free agency and significant rival interest to sign a bumper six-year deal in June to remain at Tullamarine until at least 2027.

Hurley, 31, is focusing on his recovery from a serious hip injury that sidelined him for all of last season.

More to come

Originally published as AFL: Dyson Heppell to captain Essendon for sixth-straight year, with Zach Merrett to serve as his vice-captain