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

 

[MattyB3150]

When Scott was at the Kangeroos he had to make the big calls on the senior players to retire them which included Harvey who was playing much better footy then Heppell is now.

 

[ghostdog]

He's done it gently but its already happened. Sub, 'managed', omitted, and then today not so gently leaving him on Mitch Owens to be absolutely slaughtered all afternoon. A month ago Heppell genuinely thought he was a chance to go on next year and probably hadnt ruled out 300 games. He'll be tapped on the shoulder if he doesn't call it himself

Agree. I'm thinking the conversation was something more along the lines of; "I'm giving you this week off to freshen up because you were poor last week. You'll be selected again next week. When we're no longer a mathematical chance of playing finals, I would encourage you to call time. The club needs to move forward. Then you'll get a farewell game of your choice."

 

[ghostdog]

When Scott was at the Kangeroos he had to make the big calls on the senior players to retire them which included Harvey who was playing much better footy then Heppell is now.

Yep. I expect we're going to bottom out as the list gets turned over. I just wonder how, on reflection, he would now do that differently. It's so clear that a good lot of the list needs turning over.

 

[bombreys]

Why has no one who wanted him back in for his leadership commented?

 

[Darealrath]

It's just getting really sad to watch. Everyone can see he's no longer up to it - other teams target him as a weak link because he doesn't have the pace or strength to defend, he's not quick or skilful enough to rebound effectively, and he loses his feet too easily in contests.

But I don't blame him at all; he's not the one picking himself most weeks and giving out contracts.

 

[ghostdog]

It's just getting really sad to watch. Everyone can see he's no longer up to it - other teams target him as a weak link because he doesn't have the pace or strength to defend, he's not quick or skilful enough to rebound effectively, and he loses his feet too easily in contests.

But I don't blame him at all; he's not the one picking himself most weeks and giving out contracts.

I wish he'd get a clue and retire but yeah, gotta respect the hustle.

 

[yodellinhank]

Why has no one who wanted him back in for his leadership commented?

Too busy planning on field pre match celebrations for his upcoming 300th?

 

[Call Me Cake]

I don't think anyone is blaming Heppell for a loss. A game's result doesn't change because of one player (and it shouldn't).

But I think we all recognize that in tight seasons, you need all of your cylinders to be firing in unison. Having a player who isn't up to it may not cause a loss but it certainly puts the weight on the shoulders of others and adds to the overall fatigue/morale over time as you're basically 17 v 18 most weeks.

 

[mmmifff]

I don't think anyone is blaming Heppell for a loss. A game's result doesn't change because of one player (and it shouldn't).

But I think we all recognize that in tight seasons, you need all of your cylinders to be firing in unison. Having a player who isn't up to it may not cause a loss but it certainly puts the weight on the shoulders of others and adds to the overall fatigue/morale over time as you're basically 17 v 18 most weeks.

Agree and he has been picked when we pretty much have a full list to choose from (or one of the lowest injury counts in the competition), so there seems to be an inability to make the right call for the team or Dodoro's recruiting has been so bad that Heppell is still in our best 22. (and not trying to do a Dodoro cross-over post!)

 

[MiguelM]

Why has no one who wanted him back in for his leadership commented?

Cause I am still wondering how I was so stupid. Gotta stop believing Brad!

Needs to be told he has played his last game. No farewell game please, he can watch his 200th on replay if he likes.

 

[Corleone]

I dunno if I took way to much out of his pre game 200 run out and getting around all his mates and family for so long that his team mates were left standing at the banner thinking what the **** is going on. I haven’t really looked at Hep the same since that night. Feel like from then till now he’s been an individual that hasn’t wanted to give it away because he loves the lifestyle of an afl player so much, and we have allowed him to do so.

This.

What really killed me was his "fronting up" on Fox later in the week. Link below;



He's been given 50 games since this moment.

Anyone who has ever been in a competitive environment knows that this person isn't a leader. He's a coddler. A soft touch.

He's never been the leader we needed. I'm not trying to bag Heps btw, this is not a knock on him and he's certainly not on his own. McGrath is another one.

Oh, and in case you've all purged those memories, our response after the above video was to lose our next four games on the trot.

 

[Agronomus]

Can you not see that Scott is demonstrating to him his Essendon days are over?

 

[faible]

I just don't think there's another team in the comp that would have had this much trouble moving on from a half-back flanker who has been so obviously past it for so long.

Heppell is a great citizen from all accounts, he'll probably always be well regarded by fans once he retires, but it's unbelievable that his future at the club is still a conversation. It's astonishing.

Jack Ziebell was even more cooked and Clarko played him in 22 games last year.

 

[yodellinhank]

Jack Ziebell was even more cooked and Clarko played him in 22 games last year.

How many this year?

 

[faible]

How many this year?

Ziebell's 2024 is equivalent to Heppell's 2025 IMO. Hopefully they'll feature the same number of AFL games.

 

[Howard Moon]

we lost to Adelaide without him....

You don't want the truth because deep down in places you don't talk about at parties, you want him in that backline-- you need him on that backline

You have the luxury of not knowing what I know -- that his omission, while tragic, probably saved games, and his instant retirement, while grotesque and incomprehensible to you, will save games.

 

[andleanback]

Jack Ziebell was even more cooked and Clarko played him in 22 games last year.

North had a lot less talent available for selection compared to essendon

 

[P Money]

Should have been gone 4+ years ago. Playing a few 'halfway acceptable' AFL games in between then and now doesn't change that.

 

[div12ressie]

When our transition to defense wasn't so terrible for half the season, heppell was actually great for his contested marking/effort, unfortunately we have too many slow players as is

 

[brutus76]

Been better treated than BJ who was playing better footy than Hepp at the same stage and was told "we want to play someone else in your position"

 

[Beerfish]

Been better treated than BJ who was playing better footy than Hepp at the same stage and was told "we want to play someone else in your position"

I seem to remember BJ was playing like dog shit that last season and there were weekly melts here for him to retire.

 

[Howard Moon]

I seem to remember BJ was playing like dog shit that last season and there were weekly melts here for him to retire.

The thing that screws you first is the loss of pace, considering both were starting with none there wasn't gar to drop to become farcical

 

[DapperDon]

Heppell - Liability in the backline, too slow and teams focus on whoever he's playing on.

ANZAC Day 2022, If I spotted this then you can bet opposition coaches spotted it 2 years beforehand.

The fact we are still unsure if Hep wants to go around again, like it's his decision, is exactly why we are where we are.

Ever since we stupidly sold the core of the 2000 team at the end of 2002 it's like we can't make another decision based on moving players on since in fear of getting burnt again.

 

[Howard Moon]

ANZAC Day 2022, If I spotted this then you can bet opposition coaches spotted it 2 years beforehand.

The fact we are still unsure if Hep wants to go around again, like it's his decision, is exactly why we are where we are.

Ever since we stupidly sold the core of the 2000 team at the end of 2002 it's like we can't make another decision based on moving players on since in fear of getting burnt again.

Even that selling the core of 2000 thing is super on brand for us, sure the cap hit us, it's supposed to hit dominant stacked sides. But that's when your culture is supposed to kick in and the squad make a pact to take less money to stay together and create dynasty. Hello culture? Anyone there?

 

[andleanback]

Even that selling the core of 2000 thing is super on brand for us, sure the cap hit us, it's supposed to hit dominant stacked sides. But that's when your culture is supposed to kick in and the squad make a pact to take less money to stay together and create dynasty. Hello culture? Anyone there?

Pretty sure that it would’ve been mainly hird and Lloyd taking less and they were on mega bucks. Most of the other guys were pushed out because we simply couldn’t afford to pay them anywhere near what they were worth/ continue to pay their contract