The past decade has been characterised by hope and heartbreak for Essendon.
The drug scandal meant Bomber teams of the early part of the decade never reached their full potential and the club was forced into a brief period of irrelevance in 2016.
The post-saga world for the Bombers has been filled with inconsistency and false hope, currently holding the longest winless finals record in the competition.
Throughout this turmoil, there have been 10 standouts that have stood the test of time.
Here are Essendon's top 10 players of the decade:ย
Dyson Heppell
Dyson Heppell hit the ground running at Essendon in his debut season of 2011, primarily playing out of defence and helping the Bombers return to finals under the tutelage of James Hird.
Even with the drug saga looming over the team, Heppell continued to improve, moving into midfield and making his first All-Australian side in 2014. Heppell also won the Crichton medal in 2014, helping the Bombers to a positive 7th placed finish under head coach Mark Thompson.
After his suspension during the 2016 season after the doping saga, Heppell's return as captain has demonstrated his calming leadership presence and poised ball winning ability.
The left footer has always looked at home at the Bombers and will likely form a big part of the clubs future as the Dons look to turn their above average list into premiership contenders.
