AFL Player #21: Dyson Heppell - Goodnight, sweet prince. What a legend! 🤙 - 24/8

[Lore]

Contract Status: Unrestricted Free Agent 2024
My Boy Draft 2024: Pick 27, Highly Evolved

 

[fairbump_playon]

That handball forward, while running (to Shiel?). Didn't make half the distance it should have.

Yep, to Shiel. Those surprising little skill errors come out when you have to operate at 110% just to be in the contest. That moment to me was the death knell.

Today was a bit like when grandpa gets on the dance floor. Commendable effort but sooner or later he's gonna trip over and do a hip.

Poor fella. Wants success, deserves success but will miss it all.

 

[fairbump_playon]

From Scott’s presser sounds like he’ll be backed in from the whole season.

And some of the questions from the journos, they must be blind.

Nah, Scott knows.

Everything he said in the presser allows him to leave Heppell out for good stretches (starting next week). And if he can't get back.. he can't.

 

[boncer34]

I think the thing that stamped his papers today was when he had the ball in the forward half of the square and was too slow in moving it on. Turned what was a certain a goal scoring opportunity into a turnover.

Before that, I actually thought he was going alright. Definitely didn't disagree with Scott subbing him out for Guelfi though.

On SM-G920I using BigFooty.com mobile app

Yep. Had me yanking my hair out.

I've been his staunchest supporter but that was inexcusable.

 

[Jobe Watson]

Can't keep giving Heppell charity games. He's cooked, and has been for 12 months.

 

[Old Campaigner]

Must be tough to come out of preseason feeling like you've done a lot of work, feeling fit and moving well and then getting into the season proper and finding yourself a bit out of your depth.

 

[srobbo]

If the sub was any indication hopefully that’s the beginning of the end. Just isn’t best 22 anymore & Brad just has to bite the bullet.

He’s been on borrowed time for 12-18 months.

 

[Ambrosia]

To be honest I don’t think the skill errors are something to hang him on.

His biggest issue is he can’t impact the contest or pressure the opposition when they have the ball.

 

[Ambrosia]

Must be tough to come out of preseason feeling like you've done a lot of work, feeling fit and moving well and then getting into the season proper and finding yourself a bit out of your depth.

Oh it was hard seeing him get handed the vest

 

[VexOh]

Good god, he is so bad. Has 0 assets right now

 

[dank420_]

 

[MightyDon]

Oh it was hard seeing him get handed the vest

Agreed and it’s sad to see him put in that position but he needs to do a David Myers if the club wont confront the issue. The club can’t continue to play players out of position to cover him or keep young talent out of the 22 while he plods around

 

[boncer34]

Said it in the gameday thread and I'll say it again. Surely a coach could tell him he's being subbed off before he's handed the vest

 

[dank420_]

Nah I reckon Melissa was up to the task

 

[Don Won]

It’s good theatre but he was in the second row. His comment/surprise was nothing to do with him being offered the red vest, he already knew he had been subbed

 

[ghostdog]

I think the thing that stamped his papers today was when he had the ball in the forward half of the square and was too slow in moving it on. Turned what was a certain a goal scoring opportunity into a turnover.

Before that, I actually thought he was going alright. Definitely didn't disagree with Scott subbing him out for Guelfi though.

On SM-G920I using BigFooty.com mobile app

Same. He had 3 or 4 options and didn't hit any of them.

 

[Ambrosia]

Said it in the gameday thread and I'll say it again. Surely a coach could tell him he's being subbed off before he's handed the vest

Is this always feasible?

 

[Burzum]

Must be tough to come out of preseason feeling like you've done a lot of work, feeling fit and moving well and then getting into the season proper and finding yourself a bit out of your depth.

Doesn't look like he's found that out yet.

 

[Alberto_Magnifico]

Said it in the gameday thread and I'll say it again. Surely a coach could tell him he's being subbed off before he's handed the vest

Scott addressed this in the presser by basically saying he didn't want to advertise the sub decision to the opposition coaches

 

[boncer34]

Is this always feasible?

Yes.

Scott addressed this in the presser by basically saying he didn't want to advertise the sub decision to the opposition coaches

Um what? Coaches speak to players all the time on the bench

 

[Red Black and Blue]

Some skill errors but thought he was actually good in the contest today. A few times he just decided to go harder than anyone else.

 

[cAsEy_18]

Scott addressed this in the presser by basically saying he didn't want to advertise the sub decision to the opposition coaches

Yeah that’s a cop out.

I like Scott.
And subbing Heppell was the right call.
And I don’t necessarily believe a coach has to contact a player about being subbed.

But to say “to avoid giving opposition info on tactics” or whatever. That’s a cop out

 

[Ambrosia]

Yes.

Um what? Coaches speak to players all the time on the bench

Oh I’m dumb. You just mean phone call on the bench before being physically handed the vest.

 

[citizen-erased]

Yeah that’s a cop out.

I like Scott.
And subbing Heppell was the right call.
And I don’t necessarily believe a coach has to contact a player about being subbed.

But to say “to avoid giving opposition info on tactics” or whatever. That’s a cop out

There's a graceful way to handle messy situations like this.

Many options
Dont want to advertise
Rest him for next week
Dusty subbed

Scott did alright. Ill be surprised if hepp plays the saints next week.

 

[Alberto_Magnifico]

There's a graceful way to handle messy situations like this.

Many options
Dont want to advertise
Rest him for next week
Dusty subbed

Scott did alright. Ill be surprised if hepp plays the saints next week.

Yeh that's the vibe I got, polite dignity

 

[Lore]

Eh. Having actually watched the press conference;

• Wanted to take a wing rotation off
• Choice between 2-3 players
• Wanted to add a bit of run
• Wanted to get Guelfi on
• Wanted to manage Hepp through the season so managing his minutes. Hopefully plays at least 3/4 of the season, maybe even every game like he did last year
• Still hadn’t spoken to Hepp about it but Hepp is the most team oriented person he’s ever come across and will play his role.
• Acknowledged that Hepp has probably never been subbed out in his life, but pointed out Dusty got subbed out in the Richmond game (could be a new reality of a sub that isn’t just a medi-sub)
• “You never telegraph a sub”