Essendon have chance to continue ‘refresh’ with captaincy decision

Change for the sake of it is rarely a good thing.

But what new Essendon coach Brad Scott might be weighing up while considering his captain for this year, is whether the Bombers need even more separation from a turbulent recent past.

Scott is already proving a breath of fresh air as Ben Rutten’s replacement at a proud club that also experienced significant board turnover last year.

New Essendon coach Brad Scott is yet to announce his captain for this year.Credit:Getty Images

Dyson Heppell has been captain since replacing Jobe Watson for the 2017 season, and earned praise mid-week from Scott, who said he “couldn’t be more impressed” with the veteran and that there was a “strong likelihood” he would lead the club again.

At the same time, he left the door ajar for a different outcome, saying he was open to co-captains and that the players would have a strong say.

For Heppell’s part, he revealed pre-Christmas he was “not tied to the role” and wanted to mentor whomever his successor was before heading into retirement.

There is a suspicion at Tullamarine, shared seemingly by the 30-year-old’s suitor last year in Gold Coast, that the end is nigh for him as a footballer.

The Bombers were willing to offer Heppell only a one-year deal, leading to him discussing his future with the Suns, where he could have played for two more seasons before transitioning into coaching.

Heppell turns 31 in May and has enjoyed a very good career, from becoming Essendon’s first Rising Star winner in 2011, to being named an All-Australian and winning the Bombers’ club champion award three years later, and starting this season on 213 games.

Is Dyson Heppell still the right captain for the Bombers?Credit:AFL Photos

There is, however, some chance this becomes a similar situation to Ben Stratton’s second season in charge of Hawthorn in 2020, when he struggled for form and his spot in the side came under threat. Stratton retired at the end of that year.

The Hawks’ players voted in another short-term captain in Ben McEvoy as Stratton’s replacement. McEvoy joined Stratton in retirement at the end of last season, with James Sicily now the hot favourite to be the next face of Hawthorn.

Adelaide, Collingwood, Fremantle, Geelong and North Melbourne will also have new skippers in 2023, while the Brisbane Lions and GWS may make a change as well.

The Dockers appear outwardly to have encouraged Nat Fyfe to relinquish the reins, with Andrew Brayshaw, Caleb Serong and Alex Pearce the remaining leadership group members from last season. That would not have been an easy conversation, but Fremantle clearly saw benefit in a fresh voice.

Only Heppell knows if he is as comfortable in handing the job over as he claimed to be in December, and he may still be the best candidate for the job, anyway. But the Bombers do have genuine alternative options.

Zach Merrett is Essendon’s best player, was vice-captain last year and has been an official leader for several seasons, barring his strange omission in 2020.

Then there is the always-impressive Andy McGrath – the deputy vice-captain a year ago – while Mason Redman would be willing to step up if the opportunity arose. Maybe there are others in contention, too.

Dual All-Australian Merrett turns 28 in October, McGrath 25 in June, and Redman 26 in August. They are all experienced enough to handle the extra responsibility but young enough to keep the position for many years ahead.

Heppell will lose none of his leadership skills without the captaincy tag, or by sharing the role, but any of Merrett, McGrath and Redman could go to another level with that honour.

One thing Heppell has consistently displayed, both privately and publicly, is that he is a team-first player who fiercely defends the Bombers.

Essendon’s new chairman, David Barham, declared at the club’s AGM in mid-December that they finally had the “right” people in place to succeed again.

The Bombers, as is well-documented, have not won a final since 2004 and tumbled backwards last year to win only seven games in a bottom-four finish.

Here is the chance for Essendon to continue the “refresh” while still benefiting from Heppell’s experience and leadership in his final year or so as a player.

We will find out soon enough whether the Dons take it, with a decision set to be made and announced before their practice match against Gold Coast on February 23.

AFL CAPTAINS IN 2023

Adelaide: Jordan Dawson (replacing Rory Sloane).
Brisbane: No announcement. Dayne Zorko was captain last year, with Harris Andrews and Hugh McCluggage other options.
Carlton: No announcement, but Patrick Cripps is expected to be captain again.
Collingwood: Darcy Moore (replacing Scott Pendlebury).
Essendon: No announcement. Dyson Heppell was captain last year, with Zach Merrett, Andy McGrath and Mason Redman other options.
Fremantle: Nat Fyfe will not captain the Dockers in 2023, with Andrew Brayshaw, Caleb Serong and Alex Pearce among Fyfe’s potential successors.
Geelong: Last year’s captain Joel Selwood retired, with Patrick Dangerfield, Tom Stewart, Mark Blicavs and Cam Guthrie among Selwood’s potential successors.
Gold Coast: No announcement, but Touk Miller and Jarrod Witts are expected to be co-captains again.
GWS: No announcement, but new coach Adam Kingsley is weighing up whether to keep Josh Kelly, Toby Greene and Stephen Coniglio as co-captains or possibly appoint just one.
Hawthorn: Last year’s captain Ben McEvoy retired, with James Sicily the hot favourite to succeed him.
Melbourne: Max Gawn will captain the Demons again.
North Melbourne: Luke McDonald and Jy Simpkin (replacing Jack Ziebell).
Port Adelaide: No announcement, but Tom Jonas is expected to be captain again.
Richmond: No announcement, but Dylan Grimes and Toby Nankervis are expected to be co-captains again.
St Kilda: No announcement, but Jack Steele is expected to be captain again.
Sydney: No announcement. Dane Rampe, Luke Parker and newly promoted Callum Mills co-captained the Swans last season.
West Coast: Luke Shuey will captain the Eagles again.
Western Bulldogs: No announcement, but Marcus Bontempelli is expected to be captain again.