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

 

[kelvin_sheedy]

I don't think leg speed is an issue although it would help. But like Stanton, brain speed might be, good mids are instinctual, i'm not sure making fast/sound decisions can be taught. Only time will tell if Heppells got what Zaka has in spades.

What?

Heppel in year 1 had a better football brain that Zaka in year 3/4... and still has.

He has the tools to be a great inside/outside player. Needs more bulk, fitness and a haircut and he'll be fine.

 

[Mercurial89]

Needs to find a right foot. Opposition players aren't stupid they just cover his left and he is then rushed and corralled. Other than that ive been impressed by his second year.

 

[Vtorians]

What?

Heppel in year 1 had a better football brain that Zaka in year 3/4... and still has.

He has the tools to be a great inside/outside player. Needs more bulk, fitness and a haircut and he'll be fine.

Hope your right.
Everyone sees footy & players differently, i don't think he'll be as good as Zaka unfortunately.

 

[Essendonia]

Different players. Heppell looks a lot more comfortable behind the play with time to read it. Would prefer him to play a HB or wing role, as I feel he is a creative type who needs a free role to float around. That said, needs to be accountable when we don't have the ball. Defensive game is not currently much to speak of around the ground.

 

[vast]

Not enough tackling or even attempting to tackle. Which is a worry.

As for the hair, clearly there to distract from the awful head of his, seems to be working because his mrs is nice.

 

[Mercurial89]

Im not sure his defensive side is that bad. It may be suffering throughout games slightly in what we see because he just doesn't have the engine and im not a massive fan of his tackling efforts (i believe this is a size issue). But he kept Selwood fairly well held, which isn't an easy thing to do, so there must be a pretty good defensive mindset there when he wants to, just not consistent.

My only issue with him is his speed, but as has been mentioned you don't NEED speed if you are smart, and don't panic. He will only get better at this, he also has the opportunity to learn off Hird, Goodwin and Jobe, those are pretty good mentors.

 

[kfc1]

As for the hair, clearly there to distract from the awful head of his, seems to be working because his mrs is nice.

He picked the right twin, for sure.

 

[yaco55]

Don't rate Embley, Stanton, van Berlo, Rich, Fyfe, Scully, Trengove, Grigg, Dal Santo, or Montagna among others? None of them are overly quick, but play well on the outside. All of these blokes have made it as outside midfielders without great speed, so why can't Heppell?

I am fairly certain that Heppell played juniors as an inside midfielder - And his best recent game was against Joel Sellwood who is an inside midfielder. We need to do what is best for the team - If I wanted to be selfish I would play Heppell as a sweeping half back.

 

[Darealrath]

Been happy with his season. He just looks knackered to me.

 

[NAB777]

Been happy with his season. He just looks knackered to me.

I second that. He is not the quickest bloke, but he looks to have lost a meter or two recently.

 

[ant555]

Looked horrible defensively on Sunday but it can happen with young blokes. He will work it out.

 

[The Donners]

Don't rate Embley, Stanton, van Berlo, Rich, Fyfe, Scully, Trengove, Grigg, Dal Santo, or Montagna among others? None of them are overly quick, but play well on the outside. All of these blokes have made it as outside midfielders without great speed, so why can't Heppell?

Scully, Trengove and Grigg are either not proven or are poor disposers of the footy. Embley, Van Berlo and Stanton have incredible engines. Rich and Dal Santo are exceptional by foot. Montagna is explosive and breaks the lines. Fyfe is a freak. Heppell is an ok all around player, has exceptional poise and vision but lacks a defensive side and his kicking is shit.

 

[Summer Nights]

Doesn't run hard enough the other way at times. Seems to have a "she'll be right" attitude when he sees his man getting free. Drives me nuts.

 

[Mr Mojo Risin]

Doesn't run hard enough the other way at times. Seems to have a "she'll be right" attitude when he sees his man getting free. Drives me nuts.

I know what you mean but I doubt he actually thinks that, it's just his demeanor. I see him looking annoyed at himself at those times when the camera is up close, but aside from that it's not obvious.

He does need to learn a bit more defensively but he is only in his second year. He does look particularly tired and a lot has been asked of him. He will be a jet.

 

[vast]

Scully, Trengove and Grigg are either not proven or are poor disposers of the footy. Embley, Van Berlo and Stanton have incredible engines. Rich and Dal Santo are exceptional by foot. Montagna is explosive and breaks the lines. Fyfe is a freak. Heppell is an ok all around player, has exceptional poise and vision but lacks a defensive side and his kicking is shit.

He has made a couple of bad mistakes lately but his kicking isnt that bad normally, most of the team has seen a decline in skill execution which could be a sign in fatigue, because most were quite good early in the season.

 

[Mercurial89]

I'd say his kicking is fine on his left, it's his right that I have a problem with as he never uses it. Drives me crazy. I'll never call him an elite kick until he gets at least an ok right foot because ATM he is too predictable.

 

[Mercurial89]

Also the whole team is suffering from poor disposal because we are constantly either under pressure from lack of protection, or kicking to a contest because players can't run to shake their man.

Throw in fatigue and having to make amazing kicks to break an oppositions defense no wonder we have dropped off.

 

[yaco55]

Heppell is an inside midfielder - Haven't seen anything to suggest that he is an outside midfielder - Persist with him as an inside midfielder - Failing that he will be an elite half back.

 

[ZAAHAARAKIS!!!!!]

I second that. He is not the quickest bloke, but he looks to have lost a meter or two recently.

he's actually not slow. ran a sub 3 second 20 metres at the draft combine, dunno why he doesn't show it more often

 

[white stain 3]

Heppell imo is the sort of guy who loves a challenge and sets very high standards. He will be averaging 25-28 disposals next year and will be a yard quicker.

 

[BrunoV]

I would have though that the disappointment with his second year expressed by many would indicate that the expectation for Dyson in his third year would be a Brownlow at a minimum with it being seen as reasonable that he should also clean sweep the Coaches and Players Association awards and our BnF in addition to being named All Australian captain.

His second year has actually been much better than his first because he is now winning his own ball consistently. I think it has been forgotten that this lanky kid has played almost exclusively in the midfield in the second half of this year and shown remarkable ability to continue to grind out games (even though he should not be able to at this age). While his numbers have been good his kicking has suffered under the intense work load. Too much has been made of this second point.

Based on his continually rapid improvement I think we can realistically expect him to push toward the top 3 or 4 of our midfielders by the end of 2013. It is quite remarkable considering that he would be among a midfield lead by Watson and Zaharakis with Howlett, Stanton and Hocking being on the next line.

2012 has me even more confident that Heppell will be an outstanding player of the competition once he is ready to be.

 

[Nasty Penguin]

Thought earlier on in the year teams worked out his 'turn out of trouble' and was able to work through and wasn't caught as much in the second half of the year. Second years are always where new players go missing but he was still in the mix for majority of the season. Was able to win more of his own ball in a consistent fashion and another big preseason will only further his time in the guts. That mark against.... I think Sydney from memory.... sticks out for me and shows what he is made of. Is a star now and is a Superstar in the making.

 

[Essendonia]

His second year has actually been much better than his first because he is now winning his own ball consistently. I think it has been forgotten that this lanky kid has played almost exclusively in the midfield in the second half of this year and shown remarkable ability to continue to grind out games (even though he should not be able to at this age). While his numbers have been good his kicking has suffered under the intense work load. Too much has been made of this second point.

An honest, accurate assessment.

 

[Slattery_20]

Genuine gun - will go past Watson soon, at this rate.
Took him about 2 months to step up to midfield, no shock in my book nor is it a black mark against him.

 

[LukeParkerno1]

I'd say his kicking is fine on his left, it's his right that I have a problem with as he never uses it. Drives me crazy. I'll never call him an elite kick until he gets at least an ok right foot because ATM he is too predictable.

There are PLENTY of players (elite ones) that don't use both feet, heck you can probably count the number of times Pendelbury uses his right on one hand. Heppell is fine, his kicking is elite but it is up to others to provide options to kick to!