Essendon Football Club is proud to welcome two new additions to its 2021 leadership group, with Dyson Heppell set to lead the Bombers as captain for a fifth-straight year.
Zach Merrett and Andrew McGrath have been included in the group, joining Michael Hurley in the quartet of formal leaders for the 2021 season.
Hurley, Merrett and McGrath have been named joint vice-captains to support the highly regarded Heppell, who has been captain since 2017.
Experienced defender Hurley will capably support Heppell in the role, with the 30-year-old set to notch up his 200th AFL game this season.
Merrett will also bring important experience to the role, after his time in the club’s leadership group from 2016 to 2019.
The ultimate professional, young gun McGrath is in the leadership group for the first time in his short career, with the 22-year-old starring as a full-time midfielder in 2020.
Senior coach Ben Rutten led the consultation process with key stakeholders including the playing group and coaching panel and said the club was proud of the calibre of leaders taking the group forward in 2021.
“Dyson, Michael, Zach and Andy each possess outstanding work ethic, professionalism and commitment to the Essendon Football Club,” Rutten said.
“These players lead by example and are committed to the program’s values, so they are each to be congratulated on this achievement.
“We also commend Dyson in being unanimously endorsed to lead this football club as captain for a fifth year. It shows the high regard he is held in by his peers.
“Dyson’s leadership continues to evolve year on year and he leads from the front. He nurtures but challenges the playing group, and is incredibly determined to take this group forward. He is to be applauded for his caring and committed attitude across all facets of this organisation and we look forward to seeing him once again drive this playing group into 2021.
“We would like to thank David (Zaharakis), Devon (Smith) and Dylan (Shiel) for their contribution in the group last year. They’ll each play an important role in building the leadership capabilities of our playing list this season.”
Heppell said the entire playing group was responsible for taking the club forward this season.
“Despite the challenges 2020 presented both on and off the field, we’ve seen some important growth in this emerging playing group and we’re better placed because of it. We are excited for the next phase ahead and it’s a true honour to lead the group as skipper again,” Heppell said.
“There is a really good energy at the football club under a new senior coach in Ben (Rutten) and we are all united and committed in wanting to be better across the board. We’re hungry and determined and we’ve seen that desire in our training sessions this pre-season.
“As a playing group, we’ve spoken about wanting to be a really dependable and hard-working football team. While we can set the example as a leadership group, it takes all of us to drive this football program forward. I’m excited to see what this playing group can bring in 2021.”
