ESSENDON has added midfielder Brent Stanton and veteran defender Dustin Fletcher, the oldest player in the AFL, to its leadership group.

Stanton, 23, and Fletcher, 34, will join Jobe Watson, Mark McVeigh, David Hille and Andrew Welsh as club leaders.

General manager of football operations Paul Hamilton said Stanton had been recognised by his peers for his increasing leadership role with the players.

"Brent has clearly improved his communication and mentoring skills and is also our delegate for the players association," Hamilton said on the club's official website.
 
"He has been a real leader amongst our playing group for the past few years and his elevation into the leadership group is recognition of that."

Fletcher is entering his 18th season and has played 312 matches with the Bombers.

"Dustin made himself available to be elected into the 2010 leadership group and the players responded," Hamilton said.
 
"He clearly has enormous respect within the playing group and he is very keen to utilise the experience he has gained from his 17 seasons in the AFL to help develop this young group."

Assistant coach Ashley Prescott said the captain of the club would be decided in the next fortnight.

"They want to try and decide that by Christmas and there's a group of Essendon people that are involved in the process," he said.

"Hopefully we'll have an answer before Father Christmas comes.

"Personally, they're all my favourites. They're all fantastic men who would represent the club extremely well.

"We'll let the powers that be decide who is best to lead this great club."