Heppell, who turns 23 in May, was always going to be offered an extended deal when discussions opened with his management last year as he is one of the major planks the Bombers will build around through the rest of the decade. The new contract means the Bombers and Heppell will not have to worry about his future until he hits free agency.

By that time, Heppell hopes the Bombers will have tasted premiership success, having failed to win a final since 2004.

Heppell said the supplements scandal had not figured in his decision to re-commit, joining the likes of fellow midfield stars Carlton's Bryce Gibbs and Richmond's Trent Cotchin, to recently ink a five-year deal.

"I don't think the outside stuff had anything to do with it, to be honest. I think it just shows the culture of the place. We are such a tight group," he said on Friday.

"We [Essendon] have had plenty of others re-sign as well, but I suppose with the five years, I just see a lot of young talent coming through and I see a lot of success for the Essendon footy club through that period."

Already a part of the leadership group, Heppell said he would relish the chance to captain a club he grew up supporting when Jobe Watson's time was up.

"I would love to lead this club," Heppell, the reigning Crichton medallist, said.

"I've been working on my leadership for the past few years and it would be fantastic to develop into a really good, strong leader of this footy club.

"We're so lucky we have Jobe as our captain of this club. I certainly want to learn as much as I can off him because he is fantastic for this group."

With last year's caretaker coach Mark Thompson no longer at the club after failing to agree to a new role, Heppell said coach James Hird had tinkered with what was an attacking game plan in a bid to improve on an elimination-final exit against North Melbourne.

"It's obviously very exciting. We have got Hirdy back at the club, he is bringing in some new things from our previous game plan. We will tinker with a few things," Heppell said.

"We really see this year as a big one for us and, hopefully, we can push deep into finals."

Meanwhile, Greater Western Sydney defender Lachie Plowman could miss the start of the new season after surgery on a dislocated elbow. Plowman was hurt at training this week.

New Gold Coast Sun Andrew Raines has also had a wretched start to the new year, tearing his posterior cruciate ligament in his right knee at training. Suns football operations boss Marcus Ashcroft said the club had yet to determine how best to treat the injury.

Raines was taken as a mature-age rookie by the Suns, having been delisted by the Brisbane Lions.