A reluctant Brendan Goddard has stepped forward to captain Essendon in 2016.
Brendan Goddard is one of the Bombers’ few senior players left at Essendon after captain Jobe Watson and 11 other current Bombers were suspended due to the club’s supplements saga.
“We wish it was under different circumstances, standing here is where I last want to be,” Goddard told reporters on Friday.
Mark Baguley, who has played just 72 games, will support Goddard as vice-captain.
“Although we’re very honoured and grateful to captain this footy club and this group, we obviously wish it was under different circumstances,” said Goddard.
“We’ve obviously lost a lot of experience but it’s now an opportunity for other guys – particularly the younger guys – to really stand up and take responsibility.”
Goddard arrived at Essendon from St Kilda shortly after the 2012 season – the season in which the club operated its banned supplements program.
The 31-year-old was widely expected to take on the vacant captaincy position.
He and Adam Cooney are the only players with 150-games experience remaining on the Bombers’ depleted list.
Meanwhile former Geelong midfielder James Kelly and former Hawthorn premiership player Jonathan Simpkin are expected to be officially announced as Essendon’s next two top-up players.
Ryan Crowley, who was delisted by Fremantle last October, is the only top-up player announced so far.
WhereIsGene
Guest
One of the least liked players in the competition to captain the most hated club in the league, this seems strangely fitting. As the only player at the club with the guts to refuse Dank's injections, they should have chosen Zaharakis.