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

 

[Zach Package]

Thought that was Gleeson.

Hird visited him at his primary school

 

[Ben the Gooner]

Hird visited him at his primary school

To let him know he'd just been drafted.

 

[JD11]

something something cyborg school.

 

[LukeParkerno1]

That was because we assumed we were no chance until the day before when news about Richmond taking Conca (assumed to be a mid 20s sort of pick) was reported.

To be fair to Richmond Conca isn't a dud, but it was a reach at pick 6. Still think the other 3 picks before Richmond were worse! Bennell and Swallow were good picks.

 

[Zach Package]

To let him know he'd just been drafted.

Ranierwolfcastlethatwasthejoke.jpg

Anyone else notice that they spelled 'Arial Steinberg's' name wrong on draft day?

 

[Kong]

We must have known he was going to get through to our pick though.. didn't Hird go and visit him at a camp site or something.. he was holidaying with family? Am I thinking of the right player or was that EKav?

Bomber certainly wouldn't have orchestrated that.

VOTE1HIRD

 

[LukeParkerno1]

Ranierwolfcastlethatwasthejoke.jpg

Anyone else notice that they spelled 'Arial Steinberg's' name wrong on draft day?

It was a sign! Still rather you know what we bothered to gamble at that pick.

 

[Jobe Watson]

Anyone else notice that they spelled 'Arial Steinberg's' name wrong on draft day?

Yeah, it should've been spelt "Luke Parker".

 

[LukeParkerno1]

Yeah, it should've been spelt "Luke Parker".

Don't remind me! But yes, I do agree!

 

[Bomberblitzer]

36 disposals, 19 contested, 8 clearances and 6 tackles. 2nd in total disposals so far this year. And he's only 21.

 

[JDavey]

36 disposals, 19 contested, 8 clearances and 6 tackles. 2nd in total disposals so far this year. And he's only 21.

B-b-but he isn't damaging enough.

Haters gonna hate. Hes been our best this year.

 

[Fear Boner]

B-b-but he isn't damaging enough.

Haters gonna hate. Hes been our best this year.

i love heppell but his kicking can be suspect at times

 

[yaco55]

Maintain that if Heppell works on his speed in the off-season this will help his kicking. It will give more time in some circumstances.

 

[Charliebrow 16]

He'd have to be leading our best and fairest at this relatively early stage in the year. Hooker wouldn't be too far behind though.

 

[Sealz]

He has had a great year and no doubt has that special ability to keep getting to the ball. However, he lacks penetration with his kicking and they often seem to sit up in the air for too long. kicked it Better against the dogs but not great yesterday.
That said, the kid is a gun!

 

[Ben the Gooner]

I don't think there's any problem with holding him to the ridiculously high standard he's set for himself. He's good enough to be a top 10 player in the comp.

 

[rines]

Right now I think he is in the top 3 for B+F and has been one of our most consistent and best players every week.

I see him performing at an A level.. if he improve his kicking to be a little more damaging.. he goes into A+ territory and threatens to go into 'Superstar' status alongside guys like Pendle/Watson/Selwood.. yes I think he could be that good.

At 21.. he is tracking very nicely and I have no doubt that he will get there.. oozes class imho and works hard.. and has added a real inside element to his game this year which is great to see.

 

[Zach Package]

Maintain that if Heppell works on his speed in the off-season this will help his kicking. It will give more time in some circumstances.

a right foot would also help, but isn't a requirement. Would also say he needs to back himself in more to hit moving targets downfield (something he isn't doing often), but then again you could equally say that there are very few moving targets downfield for him to hit, therefore causing the 2nd guessing and the short, pokie stab passes.

Regardless, his transformation from someone I viewed as more of a ball user/ball carrier into an incredibly prolific ball winner has been pretty incredible

 

[emblurr]

Great that he is getting a lot of experience in disposal, has to be a good path for improvement.

 

[yaco55]

a right foot would also help, but isn't a requirement. Would also say he needs to back himself in more to hit moving targets downfield (something he isn't doing often), but then again you could equally say that there are very few moving targets downfield for him to hit, therefore causing the 2nd guessing and the short, pokie stab passes.

Regardless, his transformation from someone I viewed as more of a ball user/ball carrier into an incredibly prolific ball winner has been pretty incredible

Good post.

Heppell's ball hunting ability is exceptional. Kicking technique ( as in field kicking ) can be incredibly difficult to improve. Though a bit more speed will give him more time on occasions to kick better. I am referring to when he wins the ball in a non-congested situation.

 

[Zephyr Effekt]

Right now I think he is in the top 3 for B+F and has been one of our most consistent and best players every week.

I see him performing at an A level.. if he improve his kicking to be a little more damaging.. he goes into A+ territory and threatens to go into 'Superstar' status alongside guys like Pendle/Watson/Selwood.. yes I think he could be that good.

At 21.. he is tracking very nicely and I have no doubt that he will get there.. oozes class imho and works hard.. and has added a real inside element to his game this year which is great to see.

This is something that has really impressed me last/this year.

His ability to get an effective clearance (mostly by h/ball) to advantage while in traffic is only second to Watson in the team IMO.

Has gradually learned to live and adapt to the intensity inside heavy traffic over the last 2 years, allowing him to create extra space and time to make better decisions.

Also tries to keep his arms free when being tackled at every opportunity, which is critical for inside work.

 

[Smokin]

No player is perfect, but if he can clean up some disposal we are looking at an elite footballer. Jobe was not always a reliable disposer, lets remember.

He seems to be getting less time these days - as its a given he will swing onto that left. He really needs to work on the right, even just as a show to keep people guessing. He is a little predictable for AFL standard.

But, how can you complain with his output?

 

[Howard Moon]

No player is perfect, but if he can clean up some disposal we are looking at an elite footballer. Jobe was not always a reliable disposer, lets remember.

He seems to be getting less time these days - as its a given he will swing onto that left. He really needs to work on the right, even just as a show to keep people guessing. He is a little predictable for AFL standard.

But, how can you complain with his output?

you could say the summer mentorship Greg Williams gave Watson was the making of him as an elite, polished off his game. Who can we get to mentor the Hepp?

 

[Keystone agony]

Brownlow smokey?

Umps i reckon are against giving Jobe as many votes (not that he deserves many this year) due to him being a so called 'cheat' and admitting to taking an illegal substance (Yes i know Heppell was one of the 12 or 14).

Blonde bounding locks consistently racking up the pill week in week out, doesnt matter how you use the footy just ask Boyd and Swan with brownlow votes in the past. He uses it much better than these guys.

 

[calyam]

Brownlow smokey?

Umps i reckon are against giving Jobe as many votes (not that he deserves many this year) due to him being a so called 'cheat' and admitting to taking an illegal substance (Yes i know Heppell was one of the 12 or 14).

Blonde bounding locks consistently racking up the pill week in week out, doesnt matter how you use the footy just ask Boyd and Swan with brownlow votes in the past. He uses it much better than these guys.

With that hair he'll certainly stand out in the crowd. But without injuries nobody will beat Ablett given GC will win more games this season than last and there's still nobody to steal votes from him.