Essendon coach Brad Scott defends decision to pick Dyson Heppell

Dyson Heppell remains ‘absolutely critical’ for Essendon, according to Bombers coach Brad Scott.

Essendon coach Brad Scott has made no apologies for staying loyal to Dyson Heppell despite doubts the former Bombers skipper deserved selection for Sunday’s clash against GWS at Marvel Stadium.

Heppell has made a slow start to the season for a Bombers side which was beaten last Saturday by 18 points by St Kilda.

It was Essendon’s first loss of a campaign which started with back-to-back wins.

However, the defeat hasn’t led to Scott axing the 30-year-old Heppell.

“He’ll be in the team this week and I understand there will be a focus on a lot of the more senior players in a lot of teams across the AFL, but what Dyson Heppell has done for this club over a 10-year-plus period has been absolutely critical,” Scott said on Friday.

“Right where we’re at in terms of our evolution as a team, Dyson’s a really important player for what we’re doing.

“The value that Dyson brings is immeasurable. His leadership, his sense of calm when things aren’t particularly going well … and with a young and inexperienced group, it’s really important to have seniority around them.

“The positives that Dyson brings are really hard to see publicly. You certainly don’t see them on the stats sheet.

“He’s a really proud competitor and he’s a really important person and player for us.

“We pick the team, not anyone else, so the best 22 is what we think.”

Dyson Heppell (top) has kept his place in Essendon’s team. Picture: Daniel Pockett/Getty Images)

That 22 will also include forward Jake Stringer, who struggled to make an impact against the Saints in his return from a hamstring injury.

“We really struggled to bring the ball to ground inside our forward-50 at the start of the game and Jake played that role for us and did it really well,” Scott said.

“He played the role that we’re asking him to. We’re not asking him to do any more or any less than just his role for the team.”

Scott said the Bombers were “still a work in progress”.

“There have been some positives to start the year, and some things that we need to continue to work on and evolve,” he said,

Scott expected the Giants to provide the Bombers a tough challenge on Sunday.

“They’re a quality side. They obviously didn’t have the year they wanted last year, but they’ve still got a lot of capability,” he said.

“They’re probably adjusting to a different coaching system, as are we. They’re certainly a dangerous side.”