"Where is the stability?": Mooney's concerns for fresh Bomber captain

Amid a flurry of announcements out of the Essendon camp this week, Cam Mooney has had his say on the imminent instability of the Bombers future on SEN Breakfast.

Andrew McGrath has been named the 42nd captain of the Bombers in the wake of Zach Merrett’s “selfless stepping down” from the role, with freshly appointed leadership team taking the helm at the player’s panel presenting a new face for the club.

Alongside the captain, a line-up of Kyle Langford, Mason Redman, Nic Martin, and newcomers Sam Durham and Jye Caldwell will keep McGrath company at the top.

While McGrath presents as a more-than-capable leader, taking over the gig at the Bombers will be no easy task, with the size of the club and the lack of recent success marking the most difficult period in the club's storied history.

“It’s a tough gig being Essendon captain,” commented Mooney.

“There really hasn’t been a successful one since James Hird in 2000. Where is the stability at the Bombers?

"The president seat has been like Game of Thrones – with three chairmen and four chief executives in just the last four years. With the news of Craig Vozzo stepping down – they are all over the place.

“Three senior coaches in five years – there’s been a lot of change.

“I didn’t need to see (these recent changes) to understand why Merrett wanted to leave. He is the only person who’s been stable (at the club). He made it clear that they were not going to get their act together in time to marry with his timeline.

“They need some consistency… It’s hard enough at the top level to find success on the field when things are going well, let alone the state they’re in.”

With high hopes for the club's trajectory, Mooney believes the future of the club is in safe hands with McGrath.

“A 180 gamer, former No.1, (but) never an All Australian, never a Best and Fairest winner, in fact he’s probably one of the least decorated among the 18 club captains in the comp’s clubs," Mooney said.

"That doesn’t mean he can’t be an excellent leader. He is a good talker, good leader, good communicator… he will be a big deal for the players in terms of stability.

“He will be fine, supported by the extended leadership group. It is a great appointment – he may just be the next captain to take them to a final.”