Dayne Beams is out but Dyson Heppell says Bombers should still pursue A-grade talent
JON RALPH, Herald Sun
August 9, 2018 5:43pm
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DYSON Heppell says he is desperate to be Essendon’s next premiership captain, adamant he grew as a leader through the club’s horrific early-season form.
And Heppell backed in John Worsfold’s aggressive player acquisition strategy despite the club denying that Brisbane’s Dayne Beams was a trade target.
The second-year captain drew heavy criticism in Essendon’s 2-6 start to the season as a team seemingly stacked with talent instead slumped from finals contention.
But he said staying calm and not going away from what saw him appointed helped him through one of the toughest periods of his leadership.
Heppell lauded the emergence of midfielder Kyle Langford and paid tribute to the new-found leadership of Jake Stringer, who has transformed his reputation after his disastrous exodus from the Western Bulldogs.
Teaming up for a photo with 1965 premiership captain Ken Fraser this week, he said he would love to hold up the premiership cup for a side that hasn’t won a final since 2004.
“Absolutely, that is what you strive for, being a premiership player and to be the captain of a premiership side would be something very special,” he told the Herald Sun .
“And I think what we are building at the club at the moment, we are striving towards that and we have made some great inroads this year and hopefully established a culture which will be long-lasting.
“Our trademark has been super. It has come down to the character of the players and it makes is easier to build a strong culture and hold each other to account and to our values.
“It’s been a really enjoyable year from that point of view and it’s been really simple to lead.”
Former bad boy Stringer came to the club in a wave of controversy, with John Worsfold keen to turn him into an inside midfielder.
With 27 goals in 17 games, he has also found a make an impact play 29 per cent of his time in the midfield with underrated results.
He has attended 129 centre bounces — seventh at Essendon — and the club has won 55 per cent of centre bounces he attends — the most of any player at the Bombers.
He has career highs in clearances (2.4 per game), disposals, contested possessions and marks.
“He has been super, Jakey, from the moment he came to the club he was willing to work really hard,’’ Heppell said.
“He smashed himself in his first pre-season here and brought a real element of leadership that not a lot of us knew he had.
“In meetings he is really happy to express his opinions and Jake is one that is more than happy to give that real direct feedback. He has been super.”
Essendon denied reports on Channel Seven that Brisbane’s Beams was in their trade sights, saying they were not interested in his services.
But Heppell said he would back in the club’s list management to again go for senior players after the success in recruiting Devon Smith, Adam Saad and Stringer.
“I think if those players are available there is no reason why we shouldn’t go after them,’’ he said.
“If there are gaps they think we need to fill, go and get the best players you can to go and fill those spots.”
When the critics came — some even suggesting Heppell cut off his beard to focus more on football — he said he was determined not to change into the kind of leader he had never been before.
“You have a bit of a laugh about that stuff. There is a bit of outside noise but you focus on people you trust and the opinions you want to listen to are inside the four walls of the club.
“I thought I was quiet level-headed through that period and didn’t get too caught up in anything else that was outside.
“I think my leadership really grew in that period.”
