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

 

[djrossie16]

Right now i'd probably take Fyfe but really not burdened having Heppell at the club

 

[Rack Watts]

Heppell reminds me of a young Nathan Buckley.

 

[Seb78]

Think Heppell will grow into one classy unit. However if I had to choose between the two I'd take Fyfe. Not much between them but I think fyfe's best thus far has been slightly superior to Heppell's imo.

Having said that am extremely happy to have Heppell!

 

[Rack Watts]

Buckley or Hird?
I'd take Hird.

 

[The Speaker]

Fyfe playing a full season this year will finish top five in the Brownlow.

 

[Rack Watts]

What if we add Cotchin to the equation?

 

[Bombers36]

Draft profile, taken from the Drafts & Trading board:

http://www.bigfooty.com/forum/showthread.php?t=729725

Height: 189cm
Weight: 80kg
DOB: 14/05/92
Club: Gippsland Power (Vic)Achievements:
2010 Vic Country Team
2010 Vic Country Most Valuable Player
2010 All Australian Selection
2010 Morrish Medalist
2010 TAC Cup Team of the Year
2010 Gippsland Power Captain
2010 Draft Combine Invite

Draft Camp Results:
2nd in Clean Hands Test – 28/30 93% efficiency
3rd in Running Vertical Leap – 86cm
6th in Beep test – 14.13
8th in Standing Vertical Leap – 64cm
20m Sprint – 2.98

Heppell played three matches for Vic Country in the NAB AFL Under-16 Championships, producing 18 disposals, 2 goals and five score assists in his first match against South Australia. He made his debut for Gippsland after that as a 16 year old in the TAC Cup in Round 11 and played in the Preliminary final loss to Dandenong. In 2009 he played 19 games for the Power predominately as a defender, but moved into the midfield at the end of the season to average 24 disposals, four inside 50’s and five rebound 50’s in his last four matches. AFL Prospectus

Left-footed half-back who lopes along before delivering long to the chest of a teammate. Sort of like Grant Birchall with a bouncy gait. Showed in the first game of the championships, against Vic Metro, that he has the wherewithal to recover from setbacks. The question is whether he can break out of a lope and achieve a gallop. Paul Daffey

Skilful left-footed medium defender with penetrating kick, strength overhead and clean hands. Was outstanding for Vic Country in the under-18 championships, winning MVP and All-Australian honours. Averaged 20 disposals at 75 per cent efficiency and four tackles. Kevin Sheehan

He is probably the best rebounding defender in the competition and his importance to Gippsland is unmatched by any other. His kicking is pin point and his effective kicking sets Gippsland up for numerous forward movements. He is strong in the air and clean on the ground, and teams will be keen to curb Heppell’s influence before he tears the game to pieces. He has the licence, as a designated kicker, to find the right options and more often than not his decision making is spot on. TAC Cup Website

In his own words

What type of player are you?
I'm a skilful, attacking defender.

Which AFL player do you feel you resemble and why?
Josh Drummond because he is a very skilful, creative defender with a long, accurate left foot kick.

What are your strengths as a footballer?
Kicking ability, overhead marking, and clean hands at ground level.

What parts of your game would you like to improve?
Explosiveness, ability to break away from stoppages, body strength.

Which AFL team do you support and how did you come to barrack for them?
Essendon, because they were a very successful club when I was in primary school.

Who has been the biggest influence on your career so far, and why?
Dad - he has been a real mentor for me and has supported me with my football.​

http://www.bigfooty.com/forum/showthread.php?t=729725


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Not much in it if you look at the stats;-

Fyfe - games - 50, ave disposals - 21.5, marks 4.7, tackles - 3.6, goals - 0.7

Heppell - games - 43, ave disposals - 21.5, marks 5.7, tackles - 2.8, goals - 0.1

apart from goals very close - and thats probably because Heppell has been played more in defence than Fyfe. Hard to split - both great players - I'd go Heppell just because hes less injury prone than Fyfe

 

[The Speaker]

Not much in it if you look at the stats;-

Fyfe - games - 50, ave disposals - 21.5, marks 4.7, tackles - 3.6, goals - 0.7

Heppell - games - 43, ave disposals - 21.5, marks 5.7, tackles - 2.8, goals - 0.1

apart from goals very close - and thats probably because Heppell has been played more in defence than Fyfe. Hard to split - both great players - I'd go Heppell just because hes less injury prone than Fyfe

It's not like Fyfe has a body made of glass.

 

[Yoda_]

Fyfe better than his comparison (Hird) at the same age?

 

[yaco55]

Fyfe better than his comparison (Hird) at the same age?

Absolutely better after 3 years - But whether he can reach the heights of Hird is another matter.

 

[daffo]

Don't look at stats to compare. Heppell gets a lot of his touches behind the play. Fyfe wins it in the middle. Fyfe has more of an influence on games.

 

[NAB777]

Absolutely better after 3 years - But whether he can reach the heights of Hird is another matter.

Scratches head...

Do you not remember how good Hird was in his second & third year?

 

[NAB777]

Don't look at stats to compare. Heppell gets a lot of his touches behind the play. Fyfe wins it in the middle. Fyfe has more of an influence on games.

Agreed. Heppel is & will be a very good player long term, but Fyfe has something extra IMO.

 

[Donakebab]

Not much in it if you look at the stats;-

Fyfe - games - 50, ave disposals - 21.5, marks 4.7, tackles - 3.6, goals - 0.7

Heppell - games - 43, ave disposals - 21.5, marks 5.7, tackles - 2.8, goals - 0.1

apart from goals very close - and thats probably because Heppell has been played more in defence than Fyfe. Hard to split - both great players - I'd go Heppell just because hes less injury prone than Fyfe

Take a look at stats like contested marks. Fyfe easily takes the cake there.

 

[The Fact]

Scratches head...

Do you not remember how good Hird was in his second & third year?

U mean when he almost got delisted

 

[Nifft]

I'll take Heppell, really like him as a player. He seems very durable too, which has to count for something (touch wood).






No homo with the touch wood thing either.... well maybe a little.

 

[Ben the Gooner]

Fyfe > Cotchin > Heppell

In the same way that Hird > Voss, Buckley

 

[Doss]

U mean when he almost got delisted

I think a lot of people forget that Hird's first year was actually 1991, not 1992.

1991 was a complete write-off though, because of severe injuries. 1993 was his first good season.

 

[The Prosecutor]

I see the Fyfe, Cotchin, Heppell comparisons to be a bit more like Hird, Ablett Jnr, Pendlebury.

 

[monty1104]

Fyfe > Cotchin > Heppell

In the same way that Hird > Voss, Buckley

And Dangerfield, often forgotten, like Harvey.

 

[Zach Package]

don't see how anyone could forget dangerfield.

there's probably only 5-6 young players in the comp I would consider giving heppell up for.

Dangerfield, Bennell, Darling, Cotchin and Fyfe. Cameron and Toby Greene could possibly climb into that group with good years in 2013.

bottom line is, Heppell is bloody good.

 

[GUMBLETRON]

Bennell is worth a shout too. Inconsistent, but when he's on he's fantastic.

 

[Rack Watts]

And Dangerfield, often forgotten, like Harvey.

Mark Ricciuto

 

[monty1104]

Mark Ricciuto

Same same. Both on par with "The big 3" IMO, but neither is talked about in the same breath.

 

[NAB777]

U mean when he almost got delisted

No, that was his first year.
Hird was every bit as good as Fyfe after his third year.
He showed good signs in his second year, but by his third, everyone knew he was special.