Heppell red hot at the ‘G
Bomber flies: Dyson Heppell gets up high over Collingwood’s Chris Dawes with Dustin Fletcher at the back of the pack. Photo courtesy Herald Sun.
DYSON Heppell capped off a magnificent Anzac Day match for Essendon against Collingwood in front of nearly 90,000 fans at the MCG, being runner-up to Magpie Scott Pendlebury for the Anzac Medal.
In only his fifth AFL game, Heppell had a day out, collecting 25 touches and, in the process, held seven different opponents off the half backline.
Heppell was named the Bombers best along with another first year player, Stuart Crameri, who was also playing his first Anzac Day game.
Drafted at number eight for the Bombers, Heppell has so impressed coach James Hird, he has fielded the first year player in every match so far.
Heppell described the match as “a surreal experience, just the atmosphere and the whole build-up to the game was fantastic.”
“The coach (James Hird) just said treat it as another game and lap up the atmosphere. I ran out and I looked up at the stands and absorbed the whole environment, it calmed my nerves from there.”
Hird said of Heppell, “he was outstanding, he’s an amazing kid. He’s resilient, works his backside off, he’s not arrogant, he’s not ahead of himself in any way and he’s playing some terrific football.”
It appears likely that Heppell will be rested this week in the match against Gold Coast Suns, Dyson having done a lot of work in the opening five rounds, including wearing some hard hits on Monday.
The whole Heppell family travelled to the ‘G for the day. Mum Ann-Maree said it was her first Anzac Day blockbuster between these two proud sides.
“My sons Jamin and Aaron and their girlfriends were thrilled to be in the rooms before the game with Dyson. They heard from 10 time world surfing champion Kelly Slater,” Ann-Maree said.
“After the match Dyson met up with Aussie basketball superstar Andrew Bogurt.”
Ann-Maree said if Dyson was given the week off footy, he would spend the week back in Leongatha.
“They had a recovery session on Tuesday and we were hoping to find out if he would be home this week.”
Ann-Maree said she and her family were proud of how Dyson was doing, not just for themselves, but for the whole Leongatha community.
“There’s a big Essendon following around here and we’ve received lots of well-wishes from people, and that’s great.”
Earlier that day Ann-Maree and husband Paul attended the Dawn Service at the Shrine of Remembrance so it was a truly big day for the Heppells.
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