Wood handed Bulldogs AFL captaincy again

He’s already achieved the ultimate success as an AFL skipper but Easton Wood said his ascension to the Western Bulldogs captaincy is still a special day.

The Bulldogs have completed a changing of the guard in their leadership ranks, with four new faces in a six-man leadership group.

The tough-as-nails defender will lead the Dogs, with Marcus Bontempelli vice captain.

Wood led the Bulldogs to the 2016 premiership in the absence of injured captain Bob Murphy, and was voted by his teammates to take over the full-time job in 2018.

To become the custodian of the group is something really special to me,” Wood said.

“I’ve been here my whole adult life. I’ve grown up here.

“It’s definitely special.”

In following Murphy, Wood takes over from one of the club and league’s most loved players.

“I’ve been really privileged over the last couple of years,” Wood said.

“Initially (I was) probably thrust into the captaincy a bit earlier than I was expecting or probably ready for.

“What I learned from (Bob) to is have the courage to be yourself, even if that doesn’t fit the mould.

“You can only do it by being yourself. To be genuine in you who are and really believe in what you’re saying.

“It gives everyone permission to do that same thing.”

The promotion of back-to-back best and fairest winner Bontempelli, 21, was no surprise.

Others in the group — Jason Johannisen, Lachie Hunter, Jack Redpath and Jordan Roughead — might be.

Redpath has managed just 34 games in four injury-riddled seasons but Wood said he inspired teammates with his ability to deal with adversity.

“He’s one of our hardest workers at the football club and keeps people accountable,” Wood said of the 26-year-old.

“The guys really respect him. He says something and the boys listen.”

Roughead returns to the club’s on-field leaders after being stripped of the vice captaincy in 2015.

“Having a couple of years out, he’s been able to re-assess a few things and bring those strengths (of) why he was initially in it in the first place,” Wood said.

“Its great to have Roughy back in.”

Coach Luke Beveridge called Morris’s demotion back into the playing ranks a joint decision between player and coach.

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