Maybe club greats david zaharakis & brent stanton
Yeah, cupboard is bare
2 Likes
Yep. And all three have been kicked by the fans on the way out.
7 Likes
Nothing but love for Hepp, who loved the club and gave his all. Led the club when no one wanted to lead. Courageous, brave, and always carried himself brilliantly while getting the most out of himself, even when his body gave up.
Many, many thanks Hepp and all the very best for the future.
6 Likes
Good Captain
Good bloke.
Respect.
9 Likes
I see there is some commentary about him going around one final season, but I went to most of the games during the season and for the first half of the year he was more than serviceable. He was better this year than last year, but as the season dragged on he was a step off the play and you could tell he needed to wind things up.
I agree with Brad Scott that we owed him. He was treated like a pin cushion for a year, then suspended, then given the captaincy of a club that carried his early years like a stain. He manfully represented the club and gave us a chance to move on.
He’s a great person. I’ve spoken to AFL people who recognise him as easily their favourite person at the club and someone who they delight in conversing with. He goes with my gratitude for his time at the club, and I’m glad that we were able to get him to 250.
22 Likes
■■■■ post
35 Likes
was looking set for a seriously good career early days. in that 2014 elim he was herculean and looking like a superstar. saga and injury really robbed him of his best years and it’s been unfortunate that he become a bit of lightening rod for fan frustration over the last few seasons.
deserves to be remembered more fondly than he will be in the immediate aftermath of his career. just another ■■■■ sandwich for him to swallow i guess.
18 Likes
Would be fitting to finish on 253 (same as Hird)
1 Like
being consistently ■■■■ is still consistent, so the whole club really
1 Like
Will put my hand up as one who stuck the boot in last year to Hepp on the field.
Apart from his decline with age, how can you not appreciate what he did for EFC. Was really coming into his own pre the AFL witch hunt. I think his golden years would suit how the game is played today.
Will miss you Hepp.
11 Likes
What short memories some of us have, and I am the first to put my hand up. Watching his highlight reel refreshed my memory of how courageous he has been. Unfortunately Father Time caught up with Hep as it does with all players. Feel he probably played one season too long but can look back on a wonderful career with pride. Enjoy your retirement Hep and all the best in any endeavour you undertake.
2 Likes
Hepp’s leadership through the most difficult period any club has suffered through in my time was, quite simply, amazing. He is surely the reason we lost so few players during the Saga.
As a captain I think he was always worth more to the team than his individual performances. As a player he was brave and tactically super-aware. We all know his disposal by foot was, shall we say, a little unreliable and he wasn’t exactly the fastest player but no-one could ever doubt that he always left evrerything he had on the field. At his best he was up there with the games elite, as shown by his Rising Star win and AA nomination.
I’ve never met him but he also seems like a damn nice bloke to me. I know some on these forums have criticised him for being “too nice”. Not me. I never saw it affect the way he played, which was always as hard as he possibly could.
Thank you Dyson. You have been an ornament to the game and a mighty servant to our club. Enjoy your retirement and the accolades: you’ve deserved them all.
9 Likes
When I first heard the announcement that was my first reaction. Sorry you’re all being sensitive now after ■■■■ canning him for the 2nd half of the season and begging him to do the right thing. I don’t wish him any ill will and he probably wouldn’t care anyway what I thought. He’s got a long way to go in life and the crap he’s endured through the saga will fade into obscurity but he needed to call it and he did. Kudos for that.
1 Like
Thanks for everything champion. Enjoy your retirement!
My enduring memory of Dyson will be the 2014 Elimination Final. He was everywhere that night (34 possessions), absolutely played his guts out. I was there with a neutral supporter mate and he was amazed at how many contests Dyson willed himself to. Unfortunately, that game also sums up Essendon during Dyson’s time, it’s a real pity he didn’t taste success.
7 Likes
Quality drafted player, bleeds red and black, gave it his all even when the club did him wrong and seems to be a really authentic great bloke. Based on his form for a while now, this definitely feels like the right call. Wish him well and thanks for everything.
2 Likes
I’m pretty sure he played with a hand injury that night too. It’s a real shame the club didn’t provide more opportunities for guys like Heppell to perform on the big stage.
1 Like
There are two games that really stand out to me.
That one we lost to St.Kilda in 2015 by 110 points. He was the only Essendon player who did not down tools that afternoon. He kept fighting when everyone else had given up.
A game vs Geelong in 2014. He single handedly gave Essendon midfield ascendency. Just willed himself contest after contest. We didn’t quite win the game, but Heppell was just incredible.
3 Likes
Still the worst day I’ve had at the footy. Obviously the saga (or lack thereof) is a huge ‘what-if’ moment but it specifically seemed to ruin Heppell’s trajectory. 2015 was a horrible year and Dyson and co had a whole year off to stew on it.
Edit: Hepp was still great from 2017-2019 but his 2014 form was something else.
I mean valid points, but he also threw shakkas and said cherry ripe.
I was at the game in perth when he kicked the winning goal and in that same game that Jobe got emotional in the middle at the end with all the crap the media was putting him through . a very memorable game
4 Likes