The Essendon leadership group will have a fresh look for the 2004 season. James Hird will remain captain of the club and Matthew Lloyd vice-captain, however there is a new injection of youth. Jason Johnson and Mark Johnson have been recognised for their leadership capabilities and been appointed deputy vice-captains. ""It is a situation where we want to reward very dedicated players. Their form (Jason and Mark Johnson) has been very good over the past couple of years and they are pretty hungry to get on with their footy careers,"" Sheedy said.

The Johnsons have over 200 games experience between them and are both best and fairest winners and premiership players. ""Jason Johnson has consistently finished well up there in our Crichton Medal. Mark Johnson has gone from being a player nobody wanted to deputy vice-captain of this club. He has gone into our midfield now as part of our restructure having lost a few midfielders recently and we want to keep motivating him,"" Sheedy said.

The appointment of both Johnsons to the leadership group means that current vice-captains Mark Mercuri, Sean Wellman and Joe Misiti will step down from the official group. Sheedy said these players are experienced players and are still leaders at the club. ""I have spoken with the other senior players about the decision. In fairness to Joe (Misiti) there was a period when he was nearly traded out of our club. And then you look at someone like Dustin Fletcher who has been outed during the finals over the past couple years and you can't reward that,"" Sheedy said.

Sheedy said the decision was made by the match committee in consultation with James Hird and Matthew Lloyd.

The Essendon leadership group:

JAMES HIRD - captain
Age: 31 years
Games: 186 games
Honours: Brownlow medal 1996, best and fairest 1994, 1995, 1996, 2003 (equal), 2nd best and fairest 2000; Norm Smith Medallist 2000; All-Australian 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001 (captain), 2003; AFL Rising Star nominee 1993; leading goal kicker 1995, 1996; premiership sides 1993, 2000; pre-season premiership sides 1993, 1994 and 2000; captain since 1998.

MATTHEW LLOYD - vice captain
Age: 25 years
Games: 165 games
Honours: 3rd best and fairest 1997, 1998; All-Australian 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2003; Coleman Medal 2000, 2001, 2003; leading goal kicker 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003; AFL Rising Star nominee 1996; premiership side 2000; pre-season premiership side 2000.

JASON JOHNSON - deputy vice captain
Age: 26 years
Games: 110 games
Honours: best and fairest in 2001; second best and fairest 2002; third best and fairest 2003; All-Australian 2001; AFL Rising Star nominee 1998; premiership side 2000 and pre-season premiership side 2000.

MARK JOHNSON - deputy vice captain
Age: 25 years
Games: 110 games
Honours: best and fairest 2002; AFL Rising Star nominee 1999; premiership side 2000; pre-season premiership side 2000.

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