Essendon captain-in-waiting Dyson Heppell says he’s happy to continue his apprenticeship under incumbent skipper Jobe Watson.

Heppell, 23, led the Bombers in Watson’s absence this year after the 30-year-old underwent season-ending shoulder surgery following their round-14 loss to St Kilda.

Watson admitted his passion for the game had suffered as the club’s supplements scandal dragged on but he was recently voted in for another year in the top job after returning reinvigorated from an extended break, with Heppell named his vice-captain.

“I’m really enjoying the experience and learning under Jobe … especially the experience of standing in as captain last year,” Heppell said on Tuesday.

“I think it was fantastic for my development and having the badge as vice-captain is very exciting.”

Essendon are still waiting for the Court of Arbitration for Sport to hand down its findings on the World Anti-Doping Agency’s appeal.

Heppell said that he hadn’t given the looming verdict much thought but added that he and his teammates were looking forward to putting the issue behind them.

“It’s certainly affected us in different ways,” he said.

“But it’s certainly nearly behind us now and it’s something that we can move forward from so that’s a very exciting time for us.”