Heppell ready to be Dons’ next skipper

Stand-in Essendon skipper Dyson Heppell stands ready to take over the role on a permanent basis should incumbent captain Jobe Watson step down at the end of the season.

The 23-year-old stepped into the role after Watson underwent season-ending shoulder surgery after round 14.

Former coach Mark Thompson recently suggested Watson could relinquish the captaincy or even walk away from the game entirely given the heavy mental toll of the ongoing saga over the club’s controversial supplements program.

Heppell will play his 100th AFL game at the weekend, but while he says he’s enjoying standing in for Watson he doesn’t believe his teammate is about to give up the captaincy or retire.

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