Essendon make huge call on Dyson Heppell after ugly backlash over Brad Scott decision

Dyson Heppell will get a belated farewell in the Bombers’ season-ending match against Brisbane. The retiring Essendon veteran, who announced his retirement last week, was not selected for what could have been his final home game against Sydney.

 

The Swans all but secured the minor premiership with a dominant second-half performance, winning 15.8 (98) to 8.11 (59), a result that dashed Essendon’s finals hopes

. However, the biggest talking point from that game was the decision not to play Heppell, a long-serving club great. Having played over 250 games for Essendon since his AFL debut in 2011 and remaining loyal through the club’s difficult supplements saga, many Bombers fans hoped to see him take the field one last time at home.

 

Instead, coach Brad Scott chose not to select Heppell, and he was farewelled by the Essendon faithful before the game. After the match, amid strong backlash, Scott defended his decision, stating, “Dyson was very clear that his decision to retire was in part because he felt it was time for someone else to step in and perform.

We were still in contention, so we picked our best team, as everyone would expect us to do.”

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