ESSENDON legend Tim Watson has labelled Dyson Heppell\u2019s pre-game speech against Carlton in round 13 as \u201cabsolutely brilliant,\u201d revealing details on what was said in the iconic huddle.<\/p>\n
With the Bombers celebrating their 150th anniversary against the Blues, Essendon wheeled out legends of the club to reunite with fans in what has been received as a brilliant gesture.<\/p>\n
Matthew Lloyd, James Hird and Neale Daniher were just three of almost a dozen former players to greet the crowd.<\/p>\n
Following the players running through the banner, Heppell, the club\u2019s skipper, gathered current and past players in a huddle in front of the Essendon cheer squad.<\/p>\n
The speech, with Heppell in the middle, wasn\u2019t broadcast but provided an impressive spectacle to the footy community.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt was incredible, it was unbelievable,\u201d Watson told SEN Breakfast<\/em>. \u201cCan I just say this? Dyson Heppell\u2019s speech was brilliant, it was absolutely brilliant.<\/p>\n \u201cFor him to be able to gather himself like he did and speak the way that he did, and he touched on these really important things about the history of the Essendon football club and what it meant to the guys.\u201d<\/p>\n Watson added that the speech was so inspiring that it left him wanting to take to the field for the first time since his retirement in 1994.<\/p>\n \u201cIn all honesty, at the end of it I wanted to run [and play]\u2026 I was so uplifted by what he had to say, I was so moved by what he said, the occasion, being out there on the MCG, I just wanted to run off and play,\u201d Watson said.<\/p>\n \u201cAnd then I took one step and my dicky knees folded underneath me and I thought, \u2018no, you won\u2019t be able to do that\u2019.<\/p>\n \u201cEverybody else that was around me, Lloydy [Matthew Lloyd] and Scotty Lucas\u2026 everybody felt the same way. I\u2019ve never felt like I wanted to play again until Friday night.\u201d<\/p>\n