I thought for sure Langford and Redman would be in, and possibly Wright.
Would have liked to have seen McGrath just concentrate on his own game this year, not sure a back Pocket with an ordinary kick is going to be able to lead the way when required.
Redman and Langford co VCâ s would have been a better option imo.
I like it! 1 Captain, 1 Vice Captain. Old school!
âWhy we exist as a footy clubâ: Essendon leaders look to break finals loss streak, do fans proud
Zach Merrett will lead the Dons again in 2024, with him and partner-in-crime Andy McGrath hoping the club is able to overcome its dreaded finals streak.
Zach Merrett will spearhead Essendonâs quest to end a 20-year finals victory drought after being appointed captain for a second straight year, with Andrew McGrath to again support the midfielder as vice-captain.
Buoyed by the changes made to personnel and with coach Brad Scott having another year to bed down his preferred game plan, Merrett said he expected solid improvement from the Bombers heading into 2024.
âIâm not usually one for rhetoric or puffery and I hope we can play a season that members and fans of the club can be proud to watch and support, as our members and fans are why we exist as a footy club,â Merrett said.
The four-time club best and fairest winner said the club had made big roads heading towards next monthâs round 1 clash with Hawthorn.
âItâs not lost on me the privilege to lead the Essendon Football Club on and off the field and itâs something Iâm very grateful for,â Merrett said.
âWith Brad Scott having his influence on the club through his first full off-season, all players feel well placed to improve this season.
âThere was a great recruitment drive to strengthen the playing group, weâve enhanced our off-field team to support our players and coaches and I think these changes will have a great impact on how we play this year.
âWeâre all counting down the days for Round 1 and canât wait to represent all Essendon people in 2024.â
McGrath said the group had become more aligned across the summer, which he hopes can make a difference in pursuit of a finals berth.
âItâs an honour to be able to support Zach in leading this club each and every day. Regardless of title, the role of leaders within our club is to make those around us better,â McGrath said.
âThe whole playing group wants the same thing. Weâre very aligned to becoming a better team than we were last year, as is the goal every pre-season, but weâve put certain things in place to make that a reality now.
âI feel like our training levelâs lifting, our stuff away from the football clubâs lifting, our whole water levelâs rising together. We want to show it on the field now, but weâre optimistic about what we can do.â
No leadership group just captain and vice
I like it
Agree. McGrath needs to focus on his own game and show he can lead the backline.
I canât stand McGrath.
Anyone who says that âif we get beaten by 10 goals, but we execute our plan then thatâs a big tick for usâ should never be in any leadership position.
I canât stand it when McGrath is talking to the media, it sounds like he works at KPMG or something
You reckon heâs gone off script and what heâs said isnât consistent with what the coaches/broader leadership team believes?
Otherwise, this is really just shooting the messenger.
I bet he hates conjunctivitus.
Agree. That statement really â â â â â â me off. Itâs no wonder we havenât won a final for 20 years when an attitude like that is not only accepted, but leads to players being in positions of leadership. Hopefully he stops â â â â â â â â his pants and blindly kicking around corners this year, that would be a nice change!
Literally every idea I have spruiked on Blitz is being executed by Brad.
Youâll be out of a job soon and wonât be able to criticize any of it.
So you assume Iâm not critical of myself then!
I suspected it was McGrathâs panic kicks out of defense that were to blame for our 20 years of mediocrity. Good to have it confirmed though.
Reckon Mark Thompson and Gary OâDonnell may have a view on that.
That comparison is hilarious.
McGrath would make faeces in his pants even just making eye contact with Thompson or OâDonnel
Some posts stimulate faecally