Retired #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

 

[schmuttt]

He was better today than he has been, but has been well below what we know he can be so far this year.

The problem is, he’s not really an inside midfielder or someone who defends well but he is having to play in a position where he needs to do both while feeling the burden of having to carry the team on his back being captain.

I think we’ll get the best out of his skills if we use him in a position to utilise his best asset, reading the play.

Think thats a good observation, he was excellent in round 1 playing behind the ball.

 

[dnbassador]

When did he become so soft?

 

[yaco55]

Reckon this was his worst game of the year - Struggled to get to contests which is a concern.

 

[mayhem20202]

Needs to do more inspirational acts.

Forget inspirational acts, I’d just like him to not kick the football to the opposition


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[NAB777]

Good lord. I don't think Heppell's hair or beard is what is holding him back.

I don't think it's holding him back, but I don't think he's sending a good message, as a leader, to his team.

 

[NAB777]

I can't agree with this, but with a qualifier.

He is not the sort of midfielder who should be the leader of your midfield. That's what sums it up for me.

I think there is absolutely room for a Heppell type, but when he's trying to more or less play the role that Jobe did in his heyday, then you have a problem.

Fair call... but his skill will always concern me.

At one stage I thought he was the next Simon Black...

 

[doug85]

I don't think it's holding him back, but I don't think he's sending a good message, as a leader, to his team.

Better?

 

[Vander18]

Heppell is a very good player. Better, I think, than what some are suggesting.

But he played his best footy when Jobe, Buddha and at times Myers were doing the grunt work and clearing a path.

He can definitely win his own footy, it's a strength, but he did it with smarts, agility and one touch ball handling.

We're asking him to be something he's not.

 

[Doss]

Heppell is a very good player. Better, I think, than what some are suggesting.

But he played his best footy when Jobe, Buddha and at times Myers were doing the grunt work and clearing a path.

He can definitely win his own footy, it's a strength, but he did it with smarts, agility and one touch ball handling.

We're asking him to be something he's not.

Yep, this is exactly what I mean. He is not your bull midfielder and he is basically being asked to be so, and it's not working.

 

[doug85]

Yep, this is exactly what I mean. He is not your bull midfielder and he is basically being asked to be so, and it's not working.

I think we have an issue with trying to turn players into something they’re not.

 

[Doss]

I think we have an issue with trying to turn players into something they’re not.

Well it's partly that perhaps, but it's also the simple fact that our list really is so horribly light on for the tall, big-bodied midfield type. Myers is the closest thing to it but he's also both limited and horribly prone to injury. Laverde might be built for such a role, but again, injury seems a real issue. Not sure Langford is cut out to be a mid, I see him more as a forward. Merrett is a gun but he's also a midget, and Parish is impressive but not quite big enough to be playing that role.

Thus Heppell is thrust into it all too often and it's not really suited to him.

 

[Mootsy]

I think you have to bring in Clarke and Myers, bring Goddard up the ground, to help midfield dynamics.

 

[doug85]

Well it's partly that perhaps, but it's also the simple fact that our list really is so horribly light on for the tall, big-bodied midfield type. Myers is the closest thing to it but he's also both limited and horribly prone to injury. Laverde might be built for such a role, but again, injury seems a real issue. Not sure Langford is cut out to be a mid, I see him more as a forward. Merrett is a gun but he's also a midget, and Parish is impressive but not quite big enough to be playing that role.

Thus Heppell is thrust into it all too often and it's not really suited to him.

I was talking more generally. We draft players and try to turn them from the player they are into the type we should have targeted. More often than not, it doesn’t work.

 

[Towno78]

Well it's partly that perhaps, but it's also the simple fact that our list really is so horribly light on for the tall, big-bodied midfield type. Myers is the closest thing to it but he's also both limited and horribly prone to injury. Laverde might be built for such a role, but again, injury seems a real issue. Not sure Langford is cut out to be a mid, I see him more as a forward. Merrett is a gun but he's also a midget, and Parish is impressive but not quite big enough to be playing that role.

Thus Heppell is thrust into it all too often and it's not really suited to him.

Think Clarke's our man, bring him in. Hopefully Lav is too.
Stringer could be in 2 years if he wants to be.
Heppell will never be suited to that role.

 

[yodellinhank]

Bush league disposal is being too generous. The mighty parrots wouldn't accept this crap.

 

[Jacques_]

Kicking has deteriorated to such a point that you’re in fear when he has possession. Continually gives the ball way too much air.

 

[TheGrizz]

Disposal is deplorable but by god does he work hard and put his head in over the ball.

His kicking will come good. His disposal has been way too good over the course of his career for this to be a long term issue as opposed to a slump

 

[RearNaked]

Always had dinky slow kicks

 

[Highly Evolved]

Doing well on Mitchell at stoppages...

 

[TonaldDrump]

One of the worst kicks in the team. 75% of his kicks are either loopy hospital kicks or get turned over. If the captain can't nail basic u16 skills, hows he gonna set an example.

 

[RearNaked]

Enjoyed seeing him smile and have a chat with the Hawks boys after the game. Hepp is such a good bloke.

 

[eth-dog]

Has to be given the instruction to always go long down the line.

 

[Bunk Moreland]

Thought he was okay today. Cracked in.

 

[zahoorahkis]

Two-thirds of his disposals were actually effective. Massive improvement.

 

[Rack Watts]

0 tackles.
What a leader.