Essendon have re-shaped their leadership group for 2020, dumping vice-captain Zach Merrett as part of a raft of changes.
The Bombers opted for a radical overhaul, which includes elevating David Zaharakis, Michael Hurley and Dylan Shiel into their five-man group.
Merrett has spent three years as the club’s vice-captain but won’t be a part of the leadership team assisting captain Dyson Heppell in 2020.
Fowards Joe Daniher and Orazio Fantasia have been omitted as well.
Essendon football boss Dan Richardson welcomed the changes, saying it's a positive to see the depth of leaders at the club increasing.
“We have a very caring group of leaders who, with their teammates, are all committed to setting the culture both on and off the field,” Richardson said in a statement.
“The entire playing group went through a thorough voting process to determine the formal leaders and it is a really positive sign that the depth of leadership throughout the playing list is growing.
"It is a really positive sign that the depth of leadership throughout the playing list is growing."
Shiel will join the leadership group for the first time since joining the Bombers at the end of 2018 and said he was thrilled to be noticed as one of the club’s key leaders.
“I’m super happy to be voted in,” he said.
“I feel like it’s a nice acknowledgement from the group that they want you to be a part of the leadership group that’s going to take them forward, drive the standards of the footy club and hold everyone accountable to our values as well.”
The Bombers kick off their Marsh Community Series against West Coast in Perth on February 27.