Essendon coach Brad Scott has explained the club's decision not to select retiring veteran Dyson Heppell for the club's final home game of the 2024 season.
With the Bombers set to fly north to Brisbane for Round 24, Dons fans assumed the club would likely bring the departing ex-captain back into the side following his decision to retire earlier this week.
Scott instead opted to bring in Sam Weideman and Archie Perkins, who replaced Nik Ciox (concussion) and Alwyn Davey (omitted) in the side to face Sydney on Friday night.
The selection calls meant Heppell, who won't feature at VFL level this weekend, would not get the chance to play in the club's last local game for a 'farewell' affair. Essendon did give fans who attended the Round 23 match the chance to bid farewell to their long-serving leader prior to Friday's bounce.
Heppell last played at AFL level in Round 20 when the Bombers suffered a 53-point loss to St Kilda, with rookie Archie Roberts coming onto Scott's side the following week and has since shown promise across his three senior appearances.
Speaking after Friday's loss to the Swans, which has just about put a line through Essendon's finals chances, Scott said Heppell was understanding of the call to select the best side available.
"Dyson has been very, very clear that his decision to retire - a big part of it was - he talked to me about when someone has come through and is ready to take his spot and perform that he would know it was time," Scott said.
"We've had discussions for four to six weeks. He is as strong as I am on (the fact that) we're still in contention, we picked our best team and that's what we did.
"That's what everyone would expect us to do."
When asked if Heppell would get a 253rd game in the red and black next week against the Lions, Scott said: "Potentially, we're dissecting this one first."
Heppell debuted as a Bomber in 2011 and would claim the Rising Star Award that year after a 23-game maiden season. He would claim best and fairest and All-Australian honours in 2014, and three years later would be named club captain.
Seen as the man to help lead the club through the wake of its infamous supplements saga, Heppell has been a highly-regarded stalwart at Tullamarine across the past decade.
He stepped down from his role as captain ahead of the 2023 season and has played a total of 39 games in his final two years with the club.
