Dyson Heppell says the Essendon playing group won’t let off-field events distract them.
The Bombers play their final JLT Community Series match against Geelong on Sunday in Bendigo.
The game is the last competitive hit-out before the side meets Hawthorn in a round one blockbuster at the MCG.
The new Essendon Captain told The Footy Show his side would be relentless in 2017.
“As a collective we’re purely, solely focused on the exciting season ahead,” Heppell said.
“We’re really looking forward to playing some very exciting footy that we can give to our extremely loyal members and supporters.
“Ultimately that’s the message that I want to convey to anyone that has a vested interest in the footy club.
“No matter what the noise is outside, within the four walls of the footy club we’ll be unbreakable this year.
“We’ll be relentless in our pursuit of achieving a common goal and that is playing an exciting brand that our fans want to see and that we want to see, and ultimately win bloody games of footy.”
Heppell is one of a number of key inclusions for Sunday’s match against Geelong.
“We’ve put in an enormous pre-season … things are coming together quite nicely,” he said.
“We’ve tried a few different things this pre-season and we’ve got another great opportunity for us coming in with a really strong side up in Bendigo on Sunday.
“Hopefully that will put us in good stead for round one.”
Geelong vs. Essendon
Sunday March 12
4:10pm (AEDT)
Queen Elizabeth Oval (Bendigo, VIC)
ESSENDON
1. Andrew McGrath, 3. Darcy Parish, 4. Jobe Watson, 5. Brent Stanton, 6. Joe Daniher, 7. Zach Merrett, 8. Martin Gleeson, 9. Brendon Goddard, 11. David Zaharakis, 12. Mark Baguley, 13. Orazio Fantasia, 16. Joshua Begley, 17. James Stewart, 18. Michael Hurley, 21. Dyson Heppell, 22. Matthew Leuenberger, 28. Mitch Brown, 29. Patrick Ambrose, 30. Kyle Langford, 32. Travis Colyer, 33. Jayden Laverde, 36. Michael Hartley, 40. Ben Howlett, 43. Anthony McDonald-Tipungwuti, 44. Shaun McKernan, 47. James Kelly, 49. Matt Dea
IN: Z.Merrett, Zaharakis, Baguley, Fantasia, Heppell, Ambrose, Kelly, Dea
OUT: Ridley, Green, Redman, Clarke, Long, Hocking, McKenna
GEELONG
1. Rhys Stanley, 2. Zach Tuohy, 3. Brandan Parfitt, 4. Andrew Mackie, 5. Nakia Cockatoo, 6. Lincoln McCarthy, 7. Harry Taylor, 9. Zac Smith, 10. Daniel Menzel, 11. Darcy Lang, 13. Tom Lonergan, 14. Joel Selwood, 18. Josh Cowan, 21. Jordan Murdoch, 22. Mitch Duncan, 23. Aaron Black, 25. Lachie Henderson, 26. Tom Hawkins, 27. Sam Menegola, 29. Cameron Guthrie, 32, Steven Motlop, 33. George Horlin-Smith, 35. Patrick Dangerfield, 36. Tom Ruggles, 40. Jackson Thurlow, 44. Tom Stewart, 46. Mark Blicavs
