Jobe Watson will remain as Essendon captain for a seventh consecutive AFL season.
The 30-year-old experienced limited playing time last season after suffering a serious shoulder injury and later admitted he felt he had not been a good captain in recent times.
However the club has confirmed Watson has been named captain, and will be joined in the leadership group by Dyson Heppell, David Myers, Brendon Goddard, Cale Hooker, Michael Hurley and Mark Baguley.