WHAT\u2019S next for Dyson Heppell?<\/p>\n
The Essendon veteran is seemingly at crossroads in his career after a slow start to the season. Heppell was substituted off in Essendon\u2019s round two win and his form didn\u2019t improve for the following week with an ineffective performance on the wing against St Kilda.<\/p>\n
Last week Bombers\u2019 coach Brad Scott brushed off the mounting criticism of the former club captain, explaining that Heppell is still a relied-upon member of Essendon\u2019s best side.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe value that Dyson brings is immeasurable; his leadership, his sense of calm when things aren\u2019t particularly going well, and with a young and inexperienced group, it\u2019s really important to have seniority around them,\u201d Scott said.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe positives that Dyson brings are really hard to see publicly. You certainly don\u2019t see them on the stats sheet.<\/p>\n
\u201cHe\u2019s a really proud competitor and he\u2019s a really important person and player for us.\u201d<\/p>\n
Heppell has been on the decline for the past several years but the 30-year-old now finds himself without a defined role.<\/p>\n
Hawthorn champion Dermott Brereton can only see Heppell playing one position.<\/p>\n
\u201cWith Dyson Heppell, Jake Kelly coming into the team [in late 2021 as a trade recruit] has actually really hurt his ability to find one of those [smaller] key position players to play in the backline,\u201d Brereton told SEN\u2019s Crunch Time.<\/p>\n
\u201c[Mason] Redman\u2019s holding him out, [Jordan] Ridley holds him out, there\u2019s three there that are basically [taking his right spot].<\/p>\n
\u201cHe\u2019s such a wonderful footballing citizen, it\u2019d be great to have him in the team, but if he can\u2019t play as a defensive winger who can get into the backline and create havoc by getting into the zone\u2026 if he can\u2019t have the legs to do that now, his time is going to be limited.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou can\u2019t play him forward, he doesn\u2019t have the leg speed.\u201d<\/p>\n
Heppell is averaging 15.3 touches a game this year, his lowest count in his 12 years at the top level barring the shortened games in 2020.<\/p>\n
While Scott is set to persist with the 2014 All-Australian, Brereton said he\u2019s worried by Heppell\u2019s lack of assets late in his career.<\/p>\n
\u201cI just see limited positions for him. You\u2019ve got a bloke who\u2019s one-sided, he\u2019ll always swing onto his left\u2026 he\u2019s not quick, he’s not quite big enough to play in that pace mode against key position players, he\u2019s not quite agile enough to take on a mobile sub-size key forward, he\u2019s definitely not agile enough to take on a small forward,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
\u201cHe\u2019s wing only. I thought for a while there\u2026 you might try and turn him into an inside midfield beast, but clearly they want to look other options in there as they build for the future.<\/p>\n
\u201cHe\u2019s very limited in where he can play.\u201d<\/p>\n
Nevertheless, Essendon\u2019s form has surprised a few to start the season, with Scott\u2019s men winning three of their opening four games.<\/p>\n
Heppell signed a one-year deal to stay at Tullamarine late last year after rebuffing interest from Gold Coast.<\/p>\n