ESSENDON coach Matthew Knights has given his entire playing group at least four weeks to audition for the vacant captaincy role.

The Bombers returned to training this week and held their first skills session on Friday at Windy Hill - a highly energetic and enthusiastic hit-out missing only out-of-contract utility Adam McPhee.

Knights said the players had been told Matthew Lloyd's successor would be appointed in four to six weeks, and the field was wide open.

"I mentioned to the players on Monday, even though there's been a lot of speculation about Jobe [Watson] having the front running with it all, we haven't even touched the surface of going through the process," he said.

"From my perspective, we're starting now and we'll appoint the captain in due course.

"Whoever gets it will be well deserving of it."

Knights says he is keen for the club to take its time in appointing what the 38th official Essendon skipper.

"To be appointed captain of the Essendon football club when you've got Matthew Lloyd, James Hird, Terry Daniher, Gary O'Donnell and the like … you don't make the decision lightly," he said.

"We really want to go through all the processes. The captaincy would then need to be ratified by the board and through the constitution, so it's a huge decision.

"We'd like to get the leadership group well locked away before then, so that will be done sooner rather than later."

The Bombers hit the track on Friday and were buoyed by the opportunity to introduce footballs into their training after four days of testing.

Ruckman David Hille is on schedule to play in round one as he nears the end of his rehabilitation from a knee reconstruction, while Jason Laycock has shown positive signs so far with an impressive time trial result on Thursday.

Knights said former Hawk Mark Williams was settling in well after arriving at Windy Hill last month.

"He's demonstrated already in football discussion behind closed doors that he's a very smart footballer and he's going to add to the intellect of our group," he said.

The Bombers have again reduced their average player age, having lost the experienced Lloyd, Scott Lucas, Hayden Skipworth and Andrew Lovett.

Knights said the reduction in experienced bodies should not affect the expectations placed on his group.

"In many ways a lot of our young blokes have got extra experience in the last two years anyway," he said.

"Even though they're young, they've got a bit more football maturity.

"Expectation is a hard one because what will be, will be, and we'll play hard and see what evolves.

"They were very enthusiastic today and generated a lot of their own energy.

"This young group just wants to learn and they want to be a part of big games.

"They want to keep trying to improve this club. We've got half way up and it's a long way to the top, we understand that, and there's an enormous amount of work to do but I think they're up to it."