VFL club Port Melbourne chases former Essendon star Dyson Heppell to join Hird, Dodoro

Will Dyson Heppell join James Hird and Brendan McCartney at VFL club Port Melbourne? The Borough are making a big play for the former Bombers skipper and another massive Essendon figure has quietly joined.

From a Bomber to a Borough?

VFL club Port Melbourne is in talks with former Essendon captain Dyson Heppell as it attempts to extend its new Dons connection.

The Borough are keen to secure the 253-game AFL player as a playing assistant to new senior coach Brendan McCartney.

Making changes after a thin 2024 season, Port secured McCartney and Essendon great James Hird as director of coaching in August.

The club has a level of confidence that Heppell will also sign, after a brilliant career as a beloved Essendon player and captain who led the club out of its darkest hour with the peptides drama.

And in another coup for Port, high-profile former Essendon recruiter Adrian Dodoro is helping snare playing talent for the new coaching team.

Dodoro is one of the AFL’s best recruiters and was instrumental in securing state league stars Nic Martin and Sam Durham, who were second and third in the Dons’ best and fairest on Thursday night.

Dyson Heppell gets away a handball for the Bombers in Dreamtime at the ’G. Picture: Michael Klein

Dodoro stepped aside when Essendon chief executive Craig Vozzo hired former Eagle Matt Rosa, as part of a transitional arrangement that resulted in the long-time Dons staffer moving on. Dodoro has for many years owned Port Melbourne cafe Bay 101.

Hird’s son Tom joined Port Melbourne in 2023, introducing his father to the famous state league club.

Since announcing his retirement, Dyson, 32, has been linked to a return to his country club, Leongatha in the Gippsland league. If he does join Port, he’s likely to list the Parrots as his home club, especially with his brother Aaron set to resume at the ‘Gatha after spending this year overseas.

Port Melbourne is determined to put together an elite program under McCartney, with Hird’s arrival a huge coup given he had considered returning to senior coaching at Essendon in past years before turning his eye to business.

James Hird during a pre-game celebration for the 150th birthday of Essendon in 2022. Picture: Michael Klein

Hird will be a jack-of-all-trades and might turn his hand to coaching and selection, with the Essendon champion only 51 and potentially eyeing a comeback to senior coaching. The VFL role could be a perfect stepping stone if it stokes his competitive fires.

AFL aspirants considering a state league club as a pathway could end up with ex-Dogs coach McCartney as one of football’s best development coaches, the tactical acumen and leadership of Hird, and the on-field coaching and mentoring of Heppell.

McCartney said recently that Hird was keen to give back to football.

“He can see the game, he can teach the game, footballers relate to him. He has still got an amazing aura about him. He is one of the greatest ever to play the game and he’s got a wealth of footy knowledge,” McCartney said of Hird, who resigned as Essendon coach in August 2015.

“He will be the old chairman of selectors, he will be hands-on. Every coach needs help.

“Watching it first-hand, he involves everyone, he communicates with everyone and that person in front of him is the most important person in the world.”

Port Melbourne finished down the ladder this year and missed the finals for the third consecutive season.

Coach Adam Skrobalak resigned after deciding to relocate with his family to the Gold Coast.

Originally published as VFL club Port Melbourne chases former Essendon star Dyson Heppell to join Hird, Dodoro