Essendon Football Club has today announced its leadership group for the 2007 season.

David Hille and Dustin Fletcher have been named joint vice-captains and will have the responsibility of supporting captain Matthew Lloyd as the Bombers start their Fightback campaign.

And with Lloyd edging to get back onto the field to lead from the front after missing most of last year, he is thrilled with his appointment of his deputies.

""Fletch isn’t the most vocal person but he leads by his actions on field. He has been a general of our back line for 13 years and just inspires the whole team by the way he plays,"" Lloyd explained.

""David did great job in my absence last year and one positive of my injury was that we found a new leader. He deserves to be a vice-captain and at only 25 he is young and has the opportunity to captain this club one day.""