Zach Merrett has resigned as captain of Essendon after returning to the club's headquarters following his failed pursuit to land at Hawthorn.
Merrett addressed the players and football program on Wednesday morning, admitting he was "not the right person" to lead the club moving forward.
"It has been an absolute honour to be the 41st captain of the Essendon Football Club. Growing up, it was a childhood dream of mine running around the backyard in Cobden, and it has been an opportunity that my family and I are very proud of," Merrett said.
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"If you told younger me I would get to captain this club for three years, I would have pinched myself. It's been something I've really enjoyed and loved doing. I've really enjoyed being captain to lead so many great current and past players.
"It's been weighing on my mind around who is the best person to lead this club and group moving forward, and I feel like I've come to the decision that I'm not the right person. There's so much optimism, excitement and energy at the club, internally and externally, with the fans, changes with the high-performance team, our new draftees, top-end talent.
"It feels like so much excitement and optimism and newness, and being such a young group, it is a great chance for a young leader to come in and grow with all the group moving forward.
"Thank you to the club, and to Scotty for giving me the opportunity to captain the club.
"We'll continue to leave no stone unturned to make sure we play in that last Saturday in September."
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