HEPPELL, Dyson

Dyson Heppell was drafted by Essendon Football Club in the 2010 AFL National Draft with pick 8. He had won the Morrish Medal that year (tying with Jackson Sketcher of the Sandringham Dragons) as the best and fairest player in the Under 18 TAC competition.

He received the first AFL Rising Star nomination for 2011 after recording 20 possessions in his debut AFL match, against the Western Bulldogs in round 1. In his first year, he played every match of the home and away season and was described as a major contributor in helping Essendon make the finals. Throughout the year, and leading into the vote count, Heppell was widely considered to be the favourite for the Ron Evans Medal awarded to the rising star of each season. He won the medal, polling 44 of a possible 45 votes and became the first Essendon player to win the award. Heppell described winning the award as "a dream come true". He was also named Essendon's best first year player, winning the Lindsay Griffiths Rising Star award.

He carried this form into his second year, winning the AFL Best Young Player award, Essendon's Best Clubman award and finishing second to David Zaharakis in the Crichton Medal.

He continued his ascent as an emerging star by finishing third in the Club's Best and Fairest award in 2013, his second consecutive top-three placing. Having played his first two seasons largely off half-back, Heppell moved into a ball-winning role in the midfield in 2013, averaging 24 disposals for the season. He polled three Brownlow Medal votes for his 36-possession and two-goal effort against Melbourne in round 2 and was in the best players for the comeback win over Carlton in round 11. He was named captain of the inaugural AFL 22Under22 team.

Heppell continued his upward climb throughout the 2014 season, winning his maiden Crichton Medal and his second Best Clubman award. He also received his first selection in the All-Australian team and polled 14 votes in the 2014 Brownlow Medal.

A renowned team player, he was named the Bruce Heymanson Best Team Player and finished third in the Crichton Medal in 2015.

Heppell, along with 33 other Essendon players, whilst not returning a positive test was found guilty of using a banned performance-enhancing substance, thymosin beta-4, as part of Essendon's sports supplements program during the 2012 season. He and his team-mates were initially found not guilty in March 2015 by the AFL Anti-Doping Tribunal, but a guilty verdict was returned in January 2016 after an appeal by the World Anti-Doping Agency. He was suspended for two years which, with backdating, ended in November 2016; as a result, he served approximately fourteen months of his suspension and missed the entire 2016 AFL season.

In February 2017, Heppell was announced as Essendon's new captain, taking over from Brendon Goddard. His consistent form continued and he again finished third in the Crichton Medal, winning another Bruce Heymanson Best Team Player award as well as the John Kilby Best Clubman award.

He finished second to Devon Smith in the 2018 Crichton Medal and his team-oriented form was acknowledged by the awarding of the John Kilby Staff and Trainers award in both 2018 and 2019. He won the Adam Ramanauskas Most Courageous Player award in 2020.

He signed a two-year contract extension in December 2019, keeping him at the club until 2022. He re-signed for 2023 but stepped down as captain after six seasons in the role.

On 13th August 2024, Heppell announced that he would retire at the conclusion of the 2024 AFL season. He played a farewell game in the Bombers' final game of the season, against the Brisbane Lions at the Gabba. In a fitting end to his illustrious career, he won the 2024 Trainers and Staff Award.

After his retirement Heppell established in 2024 a range of clothing called Haych, named after and featuring the artwork of his young friend, Harrison, a scleroderma sufferer. Funds raised will go towards achieving Harrison's "bucket list" and scleroderma research.

Draft history:  8# (2010 National Draft)