ESSENDON is hoping a strenuous four-day camp spent at a naval training facility helps to bring together a team of players who are really only starting to get to know one another.

The Bombers players have crawled through piles of mud, put out fires and escaped a simulated capsized ship at HMAS Cerberus on the Mornington Peninsula this week.

The camp was all part of the process of bringing together the returning suspended players, new draftees and the existing core squad.

Bombers coach John Worsfold said the camp was designed to take the players out of their comfort zones.

Players had to deal with a simulated ship sinking at HMAS Cerberus

"This was about some intense time together, in a different environment," Worsfold told News Corporation.

Worsfold is now convinced star midfielder Jobe Watson will play on in 2017, despite some doubts after he handed in his 2012 Brownlow Medal.

Watson was one of the 10 returning Essendon players who sat out 2016 following an anti-doping ban.

"I think he's going to get better day by day in terms of the spring in his step," Worsfold said.

"I've seen a massive change in the last week.

"It's exciting ... a big part of my focus, other than coaching the team, is to see one of the champions of our game have passion for the game."

The camp is expected to play a part in determining who will captain the side in 2017.

Watson held the title for six seasons before his year-long ban, and should he step aside Dyson Heppell appears to be the leading candidate.

"The players will have the biggest say, so the fact that they’ve had this intense time together in a lot of different activities helps them understand each other," Worsfold said.

"So when I ask them who do you think are best to lead in the traits that we want to show this year, they'll have a lot better idea."