Dyson Heppell to play for Leongatha this weekend.

Former Essendon captain Dyson Heppell will play his first game back at his home ground in Leongatha for the first time in 20 years on Saturday. He opens up on his return.

Dyson Heppell playing for Leongatha against Traralgon in the opening round of the Gippsland league on Saturday. Picture: Daniel Heathcote

Dyson Heppell admits it will be surreal returning home to Leongatha as his junior club plans to celebrate his AFL career.

The Gippsland league match between Leongatha and Wonthaggi at Parrot Park on Saturday, starting at 2.20pm, is the ‘Heppell Homecoming’ with the former Essendon captain to play at the ground for the first time since he was drafted.

Heppell ended his career last year after 253 games for the Bombers.

The 2011 AFL rising star winner has since been playing for Port Melbourne in the VFL.

He made his first appearance for Leongatha in round one but returns for his first home match in almost 20 years.

“I’m looking forward to it,” he said ahead of the match.

“I played a handful of senior games when I was 15 or 16. That would have been the last time I ran around back at the Parrots.”

Now he returns getting the opportunity to play with his brother, Aaron, good mate Tom Marriott and others he played alongside when he was running around for the Parrots’ under-12s.

Heppell said the weekend was a good chance to thank the Parrots community for supporting him on his journey.

“It was a massive part of my life growing up as a kid,” he said.

“That led to the rep pathways with Gippsland Power and Victoria Country. Having so many of the people from the Leongatha Football Club not only from that time but the current time that gets down to games and always have supported my career from afar or up close has been pretty special.

“I owe a fair bit of debt and gratitude to the Leongatha footy club, they were pivotal in my development as a player and a person early on in my career.”

Heppell said he would try to play a couple more games this season and hopefully qualify for finals.

But it would depend on if the byes for Port Melbourne match up with the Parrots games.

For now, he’s excited to be playing with his brother in an important clash with both Leongatha and Wonthaggi 6-1.

“We (Aaron and I) were competitive little buggers as kids but best mates and still super close now,” he said.

“We have a ball playing together. We know a few mates from Wonthaggi as well.

“So there’s a bit riding on this. These are the game you want to play in and you want to be part of the good games.

“I’m looking forward to ripping in again on the weekend. It will be an exciting one.”

Originally published as Dyson Heppell to play for Leongatha this weekend.