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Stand-in Essendon skipper Dyson Heppell believes he’s ready to take over the role on a permanent basis should incumbent captain Jobe Watson step down at the end of the AFL season.
The 23-year-old moved into the role after Watson underwent season-ending shoulder surgery following round 14.
Mark Thompson, who coached the Bombers last year while James Hird was suspended, recently said he wouldn’t be surprised if Watson walked away from the game given the heavy mental toll of the ongoing saga over the club’s controversial supplements program.
Heppell will play his 100th AFL game at the weekend, but while he says he’s enjoying standing in for Watson he doesn’t believe his teammate is about to give up the captaincy or retire.
“We haven’t spoken about that but to be honest, coming from the inside, I don’t see that being the case,” Heppell said on Tuesday.
“I’m really enjoying the role at the moment, I’ve learnt a hell of a lot off the likes of Jobe, (Brendon Goddard) and Brent Stanton.
“I’ve got another seven games to go this year to see how I fit into the role.
“I think that I would be able to do it if that was the case, but I think Jobe has got plenty left in him.
“I’d love for him to be skipper for the next couple of years.”
Club legend Kevin Sheedy, who was on hand to make a presentation to the club’s 60,000th member, said Watson had done a great job under difficult circumstances but added his injury layoff could be a blessing in disguise.
“Sometimes you need to step back and this injury might be really great for him from that point of view,” Sheedy said.
“He can have a look at what he wants to do with his footy. He’s got a lot of good footy left in him and this forced rest might really re-energise him.”
The supplements saga was reignited in May when the World Anti-Doping Agency announced its intention to appeal the AFL anti-doping tribunal’s findings that no further action would be taken against 34 present and past Essendon players.
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