Former Essendon captain Dyson Heppell has committed to a two-year deal with VFL club Port Melbourne, continuing his football journey at North Port Oval from 2025.
This move marks Heppell's return to footy following his AFL retirement from Essendon, where he played 250 games and served as captain from 2017 to 2022.
The decision to join Port Melbourne was reportedly influenced by Essendon legend and current Port Melbourne director of coaching, James Hird.
Hird, who stepped into his role at the club earlier this year, has played a significant part in shaping the Borough's coaching and recruitment strategy. Heppell's familiarity with Hird and their strong connection from their years at Essendon are believed to have been a deciding factor.
Tom Morris, Channel 9's chief reporter, confirmed Heppell's move, sharing that Heppell is optimistic about the future of both his own career and the Essendon Football Club as he embarks on this new chapter.
The former Bombers captain will also be keen to pursue his growing coaching aspirations under the mentorship of both Hird and Port Melbourne's head coach Brendan McCartney, who joined the club earlier this year with an extensive AFL coaching résumé.
Herald Sun reporter Jon Ralph added that Heppell's transition to Port Melbourne comes with the endorsement of former Essendon list manager Adrian Dodoro, now a prominent community member in the Port Melbourne area.
This connection reinforces Port Melbourne's recent trend of drawing in former AFL talent with ties to the Bombers.
Heppell retired from AFL at the end of Essendon's 2024 season after a storied career, earning accolades such as the AFL Rising Star Award, All-Australian honours, and the Crichton Medal as one of the most renowned leaders of the Bombers this century.