THE OFFICIAL AFL Captains Day photo has been taken twice, once without an Essendon player and once with. 

When the captains (or captain representatives) first got together for their photo at the MCG, an Essendon jumper was nowhere to be seen. 

Defender Cale Hooker was originally flagged as the player to replace absent skipper Dyson Heppell.

CAPTAINS PREDICT Flag winner, Brownlow, Rising Star, more

Two-and-half hours later, the photograph was taken again, this time with the injured Joe Daniher standing in for Heppell. 

Daniher had faced the media earlier in the day to discuss his recent calf injury that will keep him out of the opening games of the season. 

Melbourne ruckman Max Gawn was the Dees' representative, replacing co-captains Nathan Jones and Jack Viney, while Jason Johannisen stepped in for Western Bulldogs skipper Easton Wood.

Hello Joe: Joe Daniher joins the group for a second shooting of the Captains Day photo. Picture: Michael Willson