Essendon veteran Dyson Heppell to retire after 2024 AFL season

Essendon veteran Dyson Heppell has announced that the 2024 AFL Premiership season will be his last.

The 32-year-old confirmed the news on Tuesday morning, bringing an end to a decorated career that began in 2011.

“At the season’s end I’ll be hanging up the boots,” Heppell said via Essendon’s official website.

“I’ve been wrestling with the decision for a number of weeks and it’s a decision that certainly hasn’t come lightly or been an easy one, but one that I’m super content with.”

Heppell was the No.8 pick in the 2010 AFL draft and went on to win the Rising Star award in his first season of senior footy.

In 2014, the midfielder won Essendon’s best-and-fairest award and earned selection in the All-Australian team.

Heppell was named captain of the Bombers in 2017, serving in that role for six seasons before handing over the reins to Zach Merrett in 2022.

Having transitioned into a defensive role later in his career, the Leongatha native has now racked up over 250 games for the Bombers.

“In my own mind I wanted to call it a day while I was still playing decent footy and that if it got to a point where we’ve got other boys primed and ready to play my role, then I know it’s time,” he said.

“No doubt there’s a little competitive dog part of me that’s in my ear telling to go one more, but after considering all possibilities and having the opportunity to go out on my own terms, it just feels like the right call.”

The news comes after Essendon’s AFL finals hopes were all but dashed with their one-point loss to the Gold Coast Suns on Saturday night.

The Dons were sitting second on the ladder after round 12, but a string of poor results in the back half of the campaign have pushed them down to 10th with two games to play.

As those remaining games are against the joint premiership favourites, Sydney and Brisbane, online bookmakers now have Brad Scott’s side at $18 to finish in the top eight.

Sports news