Dyson Heppell has declared himself ready to take over as Essendon captain, saying it would be the realisation of a childhood AFL dream. Youth Raptors Jerseys .But the star onballer added there are plenty of strong candidates.There is speculation that even if Jobe Watson returns to the club, Heppell might become the new captain.Watson was skipper until this year, when he and Heppell were among 12 Essendon players suspended for offences relating to the clubs supplements debacle.Heppell was vice-captain last year, while Brendon Goddard was captain this season.He returned from his ban on Wednesday along with all the banned players except Watson, who must wait another week.Watson is yet to announce his AFL future and is meeting this week with the club.Heppell has made no secret of his captaincy ambition.Id love to captain the footy club ... growing up, (I was) barracking for the club, Heppell told AFL360.Its a childhood dream, I guess.Ive developed a lot as a leader over the last few years and really thats under Jobes guidance.There are a lot of fantastic leaders at that footy club and weve seen the emergence of a couple of others this year in Zach Merrett and Joey Daniher.Heppell said fellow returning players Cale Hooker and David Myers would also be strong captaincy candidates.You have a core group of fantastic leaders, he said.He added Essendon would not make a decision on next seasons captain in the near future.When asked about Watsons future, Heppell said his teammate was keeping the cards close to his chest.But he admitted that Watson had returned from overseas last week looking like the star onballer was ready for an AFL return. Raptors Jerseys Outlet . -- Tony Stewart is 20 pounds lighter and has a titanium rod in his surgically repaired right leg. Wholesale Raptors Jerseys . Speaking Thursday on TSN 1050 Thursday, the Leafs GM also touched on the questions surrounding the teams leadership and the struggles of his big-name free-agent signing. “Its not from lack of effort from the coaching staff. http://www.cheapraptorsjerseyschina.com/ . -- About a third of the way through the regular season, the Washington Wizards are at . PORTLAND, Ore. -- Trail Blazers forward Meyers Leonard has found himself after the hardest year of his life.It started at the beginning of last season, when Leonard gambled by turning down Portlands $40 million contract extension offer. Then he dislocated his shoulder twice, finally succumbing to surgery and watching as his team went to the playoffs.Now, he views the adversity as a victory of sorts -- because it brought him to the place hes at today.I believe that everything happens for a reason, he said. And Im flat-out excited for what the future holds.Portlands 7-footer is poised to return from the shoulder injury that finally caught up with him last season. His rehab is ahead of schedule and hes been practicing with the team during training camp. Theres no timetable yet for his return to games.The Blazers, who defeated the Utah Jazz 98-89 on Monday night in the preseason opener, are looking to build off of last seasons success when they surpassed expectations by going 44-38 with a second-round playoff appearance.Leonard, who turned down that initial extension offer last October, embarked on last season hopeful that hed make a statement in his fourth NBA season. He had already turned heads with his 3-point shooting ability, a rarity for a big man.He would go on to play in 61 games, including 10 starts, with a career-high 8.4 points and 5.1 rebounds a game. He also had 86 3-pointers.But he dislocated his shoulder in November during a game against the San Antonio Spurs and missed seven games. He dislocated it again during a practice in March and about a week later it was determined hed need surgery for a torn labruum. Authentic Raptors Jerseys. Leonard knew all along something was wrong and it just added to his anxiety. For the first time in his life he feared failure, he said.It was the hardest year of life. Not even close. I lied to my entire family the whole year. I told them I was OK. I wasnt. I come from nothing and I turned down $40 million, he said.His outlook started to shift this summer after he signed a four-year, $41 million deal with the Blazers.Leonard said he keeps two journals each day, one to record all that he is thankful for, and another to keep him focused on his life goals. He said his faith has also grown.Hes not self-conscious about revealing his foibles or the transformation.I think a lot of times listening to other players speak, listening to myself speak in the past, it feels like a lot of times its scripted answers, kind of giving you guys what you want to hear. Certainly, sometimes thats just the way it is, he told reporters when training camp opened. But I like to be a little more open, be honest, with things. Thats just the way I am, I guess.Leonard has already been at work this summer on his game. Hes looking to do different things in the post this season and be more of a threat outside of spacing the floor. 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