Inspirational captain heading into his fourth season leading the squad after turning his back on free agency. The skipper repeatedly pushed through adversity to rack up 18 senior games despite ongoing foot concerns in 2019.

He still finished first at the club for average contested possessions (11.7) and average ground ball gets (8.3), second for average disposals (26.3), third for clearances (3.8) and fourth for inside 50s (3.7) – a powerful display of his quality and work ethic.

The impressive effort saw him claim fifth place in the Crichton Medal despite missing a number of games and a clear pre-season post off-season surgery should have him primed to return to his very best in 2020.

Player sponsors: Spencer Panels, Keith Richards OAM, Radford Meats, Tiffany Galbraith and Danielle Valvo, Kirkcorp Holdings, Anthony Scott Landscape Design, Amy Kerr, Richard and Lynn Stephens, Rylan Cassar, Spencer Panels - LF

AFL awards: 2014 All Australian, 2015 International Rules Series, 2012 AFLCA Best Young Player of the Year, 2011 AFL Rising Star, 2011 AFLPA Best First-Year Player, AFLPA 22under22 team (2012, 2013, 2014)

Club awards: Essendon life member, Essendon captain (2017 - current), 2014 Crichton Medal, Crichton Medal runner-up (2012, 2018), Crichton Medal third place (2013, 2015, 2017), John Heymanson Best Clubman Award (2013, 2014, 2015, 2017), John Kilby Staff and Trainers Award (2018, 2019)