Toast 2021 Leadership Group - Heppell (captain), Hurley, Merrett, McGrath (joint vice-captains)

[Mr Bultitude]

Heppell Captain.

Leadership group Hurley, Merrett and McGrath.

Shook.

 

[ghostdog]

After some thinking on this, I'm leaning to giving Heppell the benefit of the doubt. I think the coaching styles of Worsfold and Rutten were miles apart and really needed to be focusing on finding some middle-ground acceptable to both, and reflective in unified messaging to the players. If the leaders on-field don't get it because the messaging is mixed, they can't be the sole focus of blame necessarily. Add to that Heppell not being on field for a lot of the season and it renders anything he did understand useless when it mattered most.

I think Worsfold's style was too loose in the freedoms it gave the players, which made for exciting football at times and some pretty brazen stuff. You can understand Goddard's frustration though, when the players perhaps understand the run and gun type messages - that's easy enough to do, right? - but are less receptive to the structure on-field that also needs to be adhered to. He came from a Ross Lyon structural approach on-field, afterall. Heppell will need to be that structure-centred player voice, but much more authoritatively this time around, aligned with Rutten's team demands. If he can't lift his leadership style to be that voice, I'll be out again fairly quickly. Hopefully the players are challenged to find that voice and alignment with coach and message.

 

[jmoo wan]

this is the perfect result.

 

[Lore]

Zaka, Shiel and Smith dropped from the group then..

Rutten:

Senior coach Ben Rutten

Ben Rutten

Age

40

Ht

190cm

Wt

98kg

Pos.

Def

Career

Season

Last 5

D

13.4

3star

K

6.3

2star

HB

7.0

4star

M

5.3

5star

T

1.3

3star

No current season stats available

D

10.6

3star

K

6.2

3star

HB

4.4

4star

M

3.6

4star

T

1.0

3star

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:

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.”

source: member email

 

[DERO]

this is the perfect result.

Langford close.

 

[Lore]

Poll results:

 

[DERO]

For a second there I thought they were the legit votes.

 

[owen87]

Zaka, Shiel and Smith dropped from the group then..

Rutten:


Heppell:


source: member email

Also up on the website

2021 leadership group announced

The Bombers have welcomed two new additions to their 2021 leadership group.

www.essendonfc.com.au

 

[calyam]

Speaks volumes about the lack of genuine leadership at the club that Heppell - injury plagued, borderline best 22, minimal success as captain - was just unanimously chosen as captain

Does Heppell get five years as captain at any of the professionally run football clubs?

 

[11kgm]

Thank * no zaka

 

[astrowizzle]

H

Speaks volumes about the lack of genuine leadership at the club that Heppell - injury plagued, borderline best 22, minimal success as captain - was just unanimously chosen as captain

Does Heppell get five years as captain at any of the professionally run football clubs?

Heppell borderline best 22. I totally disagree

 

[Lore]

Speaks volumes about the lack of genuine leadership at the club that Heppell - injury plagued, borderline best 22, minimal success as captain - was just unanimously chosen as captain

Does Heppell get five years as captain at any of the professionally run football clubs?

Bit harsh really.

 

[owen87]

Speaks volumes about the lack of genuine leadership at the club that Heppell - injury plagued, borderline best 22, minimal success as captain - was just unanimously chosen as captain

Does Heppell get five years as captain at any of the professionally run football clubs?

Ben Stratton spent 2 years as Hawthorn Captain, Heppell is comfortably better than that.

Heppell’s not a generational leader, but he’s also not as terrible as people like to make him seem.

 

[84859300]

McGrath is a future leaser.

Zac has been added to entice his options for 2022

 

[Bunk Moreland]

Nailed it. Well played EFC.

 

[JayJ20]

Perfect. Really happy with that.

 

[ghostdog]

Poll results:

View attachment 1043405

Two voters don't understand what a Zaharakis is.

 

[ghostdog]

Langford and Shiel looking forward.

 

[JT_the_Man]

Thought Langford might get a run but this is good.

 

[Mr Bultitude]

My post made pretty and sticky?

Double shook.

 

[Bjchan13]

Much better. McGrath is obviously our future captain at some stage and very happy to see Merrett back in. Smith displayed terrible leadership last year so no surprise he was dropped. Will be interesting to watch how he and Shiel go about things this year.

 

[Schnitzengruben]

Want to see Draper in next year.

 

[Megabattimus]

Want to see Draper in next year.

Draper and Langford joining next year would be sweet.

On Pixel 3 using BigFooty.com mobile app

 

[Bjchan13]

Draper and Langford joining next year would be sweet.

On Pixel 3 using BigFooty.com mobile app

Ridley shouldnt be too far behind them

 

[ghostdog]

Thought Langford might get a run but this is good.

Same. He'll keep.