While Essendon captain Jobe Watson continues to receive praise for his leadership abilities his coach has narrowed down the skippers leadership to his care for people.

James Hird said Watson’s biggest asset was his ability to connect with his teammates and staff around the football club.

“I think the thing that makes Jobe such a great leader is that he cares,” Hird told The Hangar.

“He cares generally about people, gets to understand them and gets to know them.”

“We talk about great leadership on the field, when the moment is there you have to do something but the more important thing is caring for people and making sure that you bring other people with you.”

The reigning Brownlow medallist has committed to the Bombers for the next four years that will see him remain at the club until the end of 2017.

“For Jobe to sign a four year deal right now is great for the club and shows a great sign of faith in what we are trying to do with our team,” Hird said.

“Credit to him to stay loyal with the club as I am sure there were plenty of offers elsewhere but he wants to have success at the Essendon Football Club and that’s great.”

Hird paid tribute to the way Watson has helped his teammates through a tough four months for the club in the wake of the ongoing AFL/ASADA investigation.

“Over the last four months it has been a difficult times at the football club but Jobe has led the football club incredibly well, the players incredibly well,” he said.

“He has given them great confidence to stand behind him and with him and it is a real sign of a terrific person that in hard times you are able to lead so well.”

Watson starred against Richmond last Saturday night finishing with 28 possessions and three goals.

“What I see in Jobe that makes him so good is firstly his desire to be a good player.”

“It is about the skill and the talent but now when he goes to a contest he is the one that wants to win the ball the most and that often gets under-estimated.”

“His power around stoppages is incredible, his game on Saturday night against Richmond where every time he was near the ball he was the one that got the ball and used it well, he is almost impossible to tackle and he is able to cover the ground as well as anyone.”