Paul Chapman has backed Brendon Goddard as Essendon captain, despite ongoing concerns about his former AFL teammate's leadership style.
Chapman agreed with former Collingwood great Mick McGuane, who said he had found Goddard to have an acid tongue.
The former Geelong star ended his stellar career with two seasons at Essendon.
Late last year Chapman's biography featured some fierce criticism of Goddard, who is well-known for occasionally blasting teammates on the field.
Goddard fired back at Chapman's comments a few weeks later, but the onballer also conceded he had to improve as a leader.
On Monday, Chapman said his mail has been that Goddard is doing a good job as skipper.
Goddard took over as captain this season, after Jobe Watson and 11 other teammates were banned for doping offences stemming from the Essendon supplements debacle.
The makeshift Bombers team of youngsters, last-minute recruits and a few stars such as Goddard faces a huge challenge in 2016.
Chapman said Goddard was the obvious choice to lead them.
"What I've seen so far and what I've heard from people around Essendon, he's doing a fantastic job," Chapman told RSN927.
"So well done to him for that, but there's a long season to go and it's going to be a tough season.
"A lot of people will be looking to see how he handles things.
"It's about how the young kids develop and they need someone like Brendon to help them with their journey."
Chapman said he criticised Goddard for Essendon's sake.
The pair have not spoken since the book's release.
McGuane, who once worked with Goddard at St Kilda, said a lot of what the midfielder says to teammates is correct.
But he argued that the delivery could be better and veterans tended to take it better than younger players.
Chapman agreed, saying: "he does try to teach the boys well.
"It's more when he got on the footy field and he got a little bit frustrated, that the acid tongue came out a little bit and he didn't think of who he was delivering it to.
"For the older guys, (they) can take it on the chin ... and see the positives out it, but for young kids who have a lot going through their heads already, it's quite easy to dig them a hole."
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