They have become two of the most exciting young players in the competition, but the progress of Joe Daniher and Zach Merrett has come as no surprise to Dyson Heppell.

The Essendon Captain has seen the young stars rise from fresh-faced draftees, to fiercely determined AFL footballers with a growing list of accolades.

Merrett, 21, was the runaway winner of the Crichton Medal last year and is the second leading ball winner in the competition this season.

Daniher, 23, is already a three-time winner of the Club’s goal kicking award, was runner-up to Merrett in the best and fairest, and has picked up the ANZAC Day medal and Tom Wills Award for his best on ground performances in the blockbusters against Collingwood and Geelong this season.

“I’m not surprised at all in the way they have developed due to the work they put in, constantly doing the extras, constantly seeking feedback on areas they do need to improve,” Heppell told Bomber Radio.

“They’ve been super.

"They are two amazing leaders and guys that I love playing with.

“They’re just really selfless team players and they’re going to continue to get better and better.

“I’m challenging Zach to become the best player in the competition and he’s someone I love to push along and get better with and hopefully Joey can kick 100 one day so we can all storm the ground, that would be nice.”

The Essendon side that defeated Port Adelaide by 70 points before the bye featured seven players aged 23 or younger.

Darcy Parish, a mainstay throughout much of his season and half in the AFL, missed the game with a calf injury.

Heppell said he has been impressed by the attitude displayed among the Club’s young core.

“The personalities and quality of character of these guys is something I love as well,” he said.

“We’re building a team that is really committed and we’ve got a strong bond to take this Club forward.

“The leadership from these young guys has been huge and as skipper it’s something I’m trying to enforce on them … ‘just be a real leader among the younger guys’.

“They’re starting to push us to not only hold our spot in the side but also improve.”