Essendon Football Club is pleased to announce, Dyson Heppell, will Captain the Bombers for season 2017.

Dyson was handed the honour of leading the team by long standing and highly respected Captain, Jobe Watson, at this morning’s team meeting.

The 24 year-old headlines a new seven man Leadership Group, which will be charged with upholding and driving the team’s values throughout the upcoming campaign.

Dyson will be supported by fellow Crichton Medallists, Cale Hooker and Zach Merrett, who have been named as Vice-Captains.

The group features a great balance of experience and youth with Jobe Watson, Brendon Goddard, Michael Hurley and Joe Daniher also selected to represent the playing group.

Dyson said he is extremely proud to be named Captain.

“It’s an absolute honour to be named the Captain of this great Club,” Heppell said.

“Jobe has been a tremendous Captain of our Club, he’s one of the great leaders of our game, and he’s been a wonderful mentor to me over the journey.

“While I inherit this enormous responsibility from Jobe, and acknowledge the great job BJ did as stand in skipper last year, it’s important for me to be an authentic leader of the Club and to develop my own leadership style.

“We have a fantastic Leadership Group which varies in age and experience, but I know we are all committed to driving this Club to where we want to get to.”

CEO, Xavier Campbell, said Heppell joins a prestigious group of players.

“We are thrilled to announce, Dyson Heppell, as our Captain for the upcoming season,” Campbell said.

“This is a great endorsement of Dyson’s standing within the playing group and the broader football Club. It is an honour to Captain the Essendon Football Club, and Dyson joins a prestigious group of players including Bill Hutchison, Dick Reynolds, Terry Daniher, James Hird, and Ken Fraser.

“On behalf of everyone at the Club I would also like to take this opportunity to thank Jobe Watson for his selfless and simply outstanding Captaincy during his six seasons at the helm. Jobe will be remembered as a great Captain of Essendon.

“I’d also like to acknowledge the tremendous job, Brendon Goddard, did as Captain during trying circumstances last season. Brendon should be extremely proud of the role he played in mentoring and fast tracking the development of our young group.”

Senior Coach, John Worsfold, said Dyson had demonstrated he was ready to play a leading role in the Club’s comeback story.

“The selection process highlighted the respect Dyson’s teammates have for him and the way he lives and breathes our values,” Worsfold said.

“Dyson has an incredible ability to extract the best out of people, both on and off the field. He backs up his words with actions, and does this on a consistent basis, which is a true mark of a leader.

“The seven members of the Leadership Group are super professionals who are passionate about helping Essendon become the most inclusive, successful and respected sporting organisation in the country. They will also maintain a strong level of communication to the Club’s leaders and coaching group on all aspects of our vision.

“The different experience levels of our leaders reinforces our team philosophy that whether you’re in your first season or you’ve been at the Club for a decade, we all have a role to play when it comes to living and upholding our core values.”

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