Quick Read
- Dyson Heppell, former Essendon captain, has joined Collingwood as a development coach for the 2025 season.
- Heppell played 253 AFL games, was an All-Australian, Rising Star, and won Essendon’s best and fairest.
- After retiring in 2024, he spent a year playing in the VFL and Gippsland League before moving into coaching.
- Heppell will focus on developing Collingwood’s emerging talent, starting with the January preseason.
From Captain to Coach: Dyson Heppell’s New Chapter at Collingwood
In the world of Australian Rules Football, transitions are rarely seamless. But for Dyson Heppell, the move from celebrated Essendon captain to Collingwood’s newest development coach feels less like an abrupt change and more like a natural evolution. As of January 2025, Heppell—who played 253 games over 14 seasons, captaining Essendon for six of those—will lend his experience and leadership to the Pies’ up-and-coming talent. Collingwood FC and ESPN both confirmed the appointment in December, marking the beginning of a fresh chapter for one of the game’s most respected figures.
A Career Built on Leadership and Resilience
Heppell’s journey through football is marked by more than numbers. He was Essendon’s Rising Star in 2011, an All-Australian in 2014, and the club’s best and fairest (Crichton Medal) winner. His leadership was tested and proven, especially during some of Essendon’s most turbulent years. As captain, he was often the public face of the Bombers, navigating both on-field challenges and off-field controversies with a calm, grounded presence. That steadying influence, according to Collingwood’s EGM of Football Charlie Gardiner, is exactly what the Pies’ developing talent needs now.
“Dyson is a fantastic addition to our coaching team and football department,” Gardiner said in a club statement. “His experiences as a player, including his knowledge around leadership, will be a valuable asset to our playing group. Working predominantly with our upcoming talent, Dyson’s ability to form strong relationships and understand the needs of players will allow him to be influential and mentor our emerging talent.”
Life After AFL: Returning to Roots Before Coaching
After announcing his retirement from AFL at the end of the 2024 season, Heppell didn’t step away from football entirely. Instead, he spent the following year reconnecting with his roots—playing for Port Melbourne in the Victorian Football League and returning home to represent Leongatha in Victoria’s Gippsland League. This year in community football wasn’t just a victory lap; it was a chance to rediscover the game’s grassroots energy and to give back to the local clubs that shaped his early years. Those who watched him in Gippsland saw a player still passionate about the sport, but also a mentor—someone already testing the waters of leadership off the field.
That experience, blending the professionalism of the AFL with the community-driven spirit of regional football, is expected to serve Heppell well as he helps Collingwood’s next generation navigate the leap from hopeful prospect to senior player.
The Coaching Team Grows: Stafford and Heppell Arrive
Heppell isn’t the only fresh face at Collingwood’s coaching table. The Magpies also announced the appointment of Greg Stafford, a highly regarded ruck coach who spent 11 seasons at Melbourne—including during the Demons’ 2021 Premiership run. Stafford brings over two decades of football knowledge, both as a player (204 games for Sydney and Richmond) and as a coach with a reputation for developing elite ruckmen. Together, Stafford and Heppell represent a strategic investment in Collingwood’s future—a dual focus on technical excellence and personal growth.
“We are excited to welcome such high-calibre people to Collingwood and we look forward to seeing the impact Dyson and Greg can have throughout our Club,” Gardiner said. The message is clear: the Magpies are building not just for the next season, but for the seasons beyond, prioritizing a culture of learning and mentorship as much as on-field success.
What Heppell Brings to Collingwood
For Collingwood’s young squad, having a mentor like Heppell is more than just a boost to their football education. Heppell’s story—rising quickly through the ranks, weathering adversity, and leading with integrity—offers a template for resilience in a league where pressure is relentless and expectations are sky-high. His firsthand understanding of what it takes to sustain a long career will be invaluable to players seeking to carve out their own paths.
Heppell’s focus in the new role will be on development: forming strong relationships, building trust, and offering tailored guidance. It’s a shift from the spotlight of AFL captaincy to the quieter, but no less important, work of shaping the next generation. For a club like Collingwood, where the stakes are always high and the supporter base demanding, that investment in people is as critical as recruiting the next star midfielder or forward.
And for Heppell himself, coaching offers a new avenue for the same values that defined his playing days—teamwork, resilience, and an unshakeable commitment to improvement. “Coaching is really about helping others find their best,” he’s said in past interviews. At Collingwood, he’ll have ample opportunity to do just that.
Looking Ahead: The 2025 Preseason and Beyond
With preseason training set to resume in January 2025, Collingwood’s playing group will soon see firsthand what Heppell brings to the table. Early indications suggest he’ll be hands-on, approachable, and focused on building a culture where players feel supported in both their football and their personal development. In an era where the demands on young athletes extend far beyond the field, Heppell’s holistic approach could prove pivotal.
For the AFL community, seeing a respected figure like Dyson Heppell take up the coaching baton is a reminder that the end of a playing career doesn’t have to mean stepping away from the game’s biggest stages. Sometimes, it’s just a new beginning—one that can be just as influential, if not more so, than anything achieved as a player.
Dyson Heppell’s arrival at Collingwood as a development coach is more than a change of scenery; it’s a strategic move for both club and coach. His blend of leadership, experience, and empathy positions him as a mentor who can shape not only footballers but future leaders. As the Magpies gear up for 2025 and beyond, all eyes will be on how Heppell’s quiet influence shapes the next generation—and whether his story can inspire others to see football not just as a game, but as a lifelong community.