Zach Merrett will bounce back bigger and better after being axed from Essendon’s leadership group, according to Bombers general manager of football Dan Richardson.

Dual Essendon best-and-fairest winner Merrett, who served as captain on several occasions in Dyson Heppell’s absence last season, was surprisingly omitted from the Bombers’ five-man leadership group for 2020.

The 20-year-old captained the AFL club on six occasions last year when Dyson Heppell was unavailable.

Instead, Dylan Shiel and Devon Smith will join experienced midfielder David Zaharakis and veteran defender Michael Hurley alongside Bombers captain Heppell.

Joe Daniher was also left out of the leadership group, while small forward Orazio Fantasia turned down an opportunity to be part of the team despite being voted in.

Richardson says while Merrett did not rank as high as the five elected leaders, people shouldn’t assume that the reigning Chrichton medallist’s omission means he’s a poor leader.

“We feel really comfortable with the leadership group as it stands right now and I’m sure Zach will come back bigger and better and will use this as an opportunity to continue growing his leadership and the way he goes about it,” he told SEN.

“We asked players for feedback around some on and off-field roles and around their leadership and I think an important point to make is Zach still rated well, he just didn’t rate as highly as the other five in the group.

“I don’t think the fact that he’s not in the official leadership group, people shouldn’t make the assumption that he’s a poor leader or not leading at all, he is, and I’m sure he will continue to do.”