After Zach Merrett's failed move to Hawthorn in the 2025 AFL Trade Period, he has officially stood down as Essendon's skipper after three seasons as captain of the club.
The question is, who will be the Bombers' next captain for the future?
Essendon doesn't have a standout guy to be the next leader, but they have a few who may be favoured, and a couple of smokey options for the future.
The next captain of the Bombers will have a key role in developing and helping the Bombers' young side for the future, and the Bombers need to make sure they don't have another Merrett situation in the near future.
We look through Essendon's best options for their next captain for the 2026 season and beyond.
3Sam Durham
While an outside chance for the captain spot, Sam Durham has continued to improve on and off the field since his breakout season in 2024.
Durham shows his passion for the Dons on the field, taking a key role inside the Bombers' midfield, coming third in the Crichton Medal the last two seasons and winning the Bombers' most improved player award in 2024.
During his rise on the field, Bombers fans have seen the potential for Durham to become a future captain of Essendon, and with Essendon's younger list, it may make sense to implement a younger captain to lead the side.
Now, it may be a little early for him to take over from Merrett, but he will definitely be a leader of the club in the future, if he isn't already.
