Michael Hurley has been named Essendon Captain for the match against Gold Coast on Sunday.

With full-time skipper Dyson Heppell and Vice-Captains Zach Merrett and Cale Hooker not playing, the leadership post became available.

Past Captains Brendon Goddard and Jobe Watson are in the squad for the match against the Suns alongside fellow Leadership Group member Joe Daniher.

But Bombers Coach John Worsfold said Hurley is ready for the extra responsibility.

“He’s got a very strong presence in the group, the players really look up to him and we know that because we saw the way they voted in our leadership criteria,” Worsfold said.

“He’s excited about the season, he’s so focused on the team being successful.

“With ‘Hep’, Zach and ‘Hooksy’ all out we thought it was a great opportunity for ‘Hurls’ to step up.

“He’ll have Brendon Goddard and Jobe Watson out there alongside him as well Joe Daniher from the Leadership Group to help him out, but we thought ‘Hurls’ was ready for this opportunity.”

Hurley has played 119 games for the Bombers.

He was named in the All-Australian side and finished runner-up in the Crichton Medal in 2015.

Gold Coast vs. Essendon

Sunday February 26

3:40pm (EST)/ 4:40pm (AEDT)

Harrup Park Country Club (Mackay, QLD)

ESSENDON

1. Andrew McGrath, 3. Darcy Parish, 4. Jobe Watson, 5. Brent Stanton, 6. Joe Daniher, 8. Martin Gleeson, 9. Brendon Goddard, 14. Jordan Ridley, 15. Josh Green, 16. Joshua Begley, 17. James Stewart, 18. Michael Hurley, 19. Kobe Mutch, 20. Jackson Merrett, 22. Matthew Leuenberger, 27. Mason Redman, 28. Mitch Brown, 30. Kyle Langford, 32. Travis Colyer, 33. Jayden Laverde, 34. Jake Long, 36. Michael Hartley, 37. Dylan Clarke, 39. Heath Hocking, 40. Ben Howlett, 43. Anthony McDonald-Tipungwuti, 44. Shaun McKernan, 45. Conor McKenna, 49. Matt Dea

Changes:

IN: Stanton, Daniher, Ridley, Begley, Mutch, Redman, Clarke, Hartley, McKenna

OUT: Heppell, Z.Merrett, Zaharakis, Baguley, Myers, Bird, Ambrose, Kelly, Fantasia

GOLD COAST

1. Pearce Hanley, 2. Jarrad Grant, 4. Jack Martin, 6. Alex Sexton, 7. Jesse Lonergan, 8. Brayden Fiorini, 10. Kade Kolodjashnij, 11. Touk Miller, 13. Callum Ah Chee, 14. Mitch Hallahan, 15. Dan Currie, 16. Rory Thompson, 17. Steven May, 20. Michael Barlow, 21. Jack Leslie, 23. Sean Lemmens, 24. David Swallow, 26. Matthew Shaw, 27. Ben Ainsworth, 30. Peter Wright, 31. Keegan Brooksby, 32. Brandon Matera, 34. Mackenzie Willis, 36. Josh Schoenfeld, 38. Jesse Joyce, 39. Ryan Davis, 41. Will Brodie, 42. Adam Saad, 44. Darcy Macpherson