Essendon veteran Dyson Heppell wants to mentor the AFL club's next captain while he is still playing but is unsure when he will hand over the reins.
Heppell, who signed a one-year contract extension in September, has led the Bombers for six seasons since inheriting the captaincy from Jobe Watson.
But the 30-year-old is no certainty to continue on as skipper next season.
New coach Brad Scott indicated this week it could take until the end of February for Essendon to settle on the make-up of their leadership group.
"I've thoroughly enjoyed my time as skipper but I'm not tied to the role at all," Heppell told reporters on Thursday.
"If the group and the club feel that there's someone else that's better off to lead the group going forward, then I'm more than happy to step down and hand the reins over."
Zach Merrett and Andrew McGrath are among the leading contenders to succeed Heppell, having served under him in a three-man leadership group in 2022.
Heppell spent his first season as captain playing alongside Watson, before the latter retired at the end of 2017.
The 213-game veteran wants to provide similar guidance for his successor.
"I want to be there still while the next captain comes through to help mentor, help guide and develop them as well," Heppell said.
"We'll see how it all plays out over the next couple of months.
"We're in no rush to make that call but there's certainly some really strong leaders that'll be ready to take the reins."
Heppell is injury-free at the start of pre-season for the first time in several years and hopes a strong summer can set him up for a big 2023 campaign.
The veteran weighed up interest from Gold Coast this year before returning to Essendon, where he will enter a 13th AFL season.
"The main thing was what the club actually means to me and what it's done for my life," Heppell said.
"It's such a huge part of my life and I'm really happy that it's panned out this way and I can finish my career at the Bombers."
