Gippsland: Leongatha hopeful Dyson Heppell will play for Gippsland powerhouse in 2025

The on field reunion of Dyson and Aaron Heppell at their home club in 2025 remains a strong possibility, albeit in a reduced capacity than initially hoped. See why.

Leongatha hasn’t totally shut the door on Dyson Heppell playing for the Gippsland league powerhouse next year.

After a shock loss to Traralgon in the grand final last month, Leongatha had hopes of the former Essendon captain reuniting with his brother Aaron in 2025.

But an expanding Bombers presence at VFL club Port Melbourne, including former coach James Hird and head recruiter Adrian Dodoro coming on board in support roles to new coach Brendan McCartney, has trumped Heppell’s original club.

Dyson Heppell of the Bombers is chaired off the field after playing his last game against Brisbane in the final round. Picture: Albert Perez

Heppell signed a two-year contract with Port Melbourne this week.

“It will all be up to Port whether he can play for us when they have a bye or something,” Leongatha president Mal Mackie said.

“We’re still hoping to get four games from him.

“We certainly thought we were in the mix, but when ‘Hirdy’ got involved, things obviously changed a bit.

“But I know he still definitely wants to play with Tommy Marriott and his brother.”

Aaron Heppell played his most recent match for Leongatha in the 2023 grand final win against Wonthaggi. Picture: Yuri Kouzmin

Hird has taken on a coaching director role with Port Melbourne and was Essendon coach when the Bombers drafted Heppell in 2010.

Heppell will nominate Leongatha as his “home club” which allows him to play for the Parrots when not required for VFL duties.

If he plays four matches for Leongatha, as hoped, he will qualify to play finals.

Aaron Heppell, who previously played with Essendon’s VFL team, spent this season overseas, but will return to Leongatha next year.

He will be a major boost to their midfield stocks along with Old Melburnians onballer Ben Harding.

Leongatha has also recruited Buln Buln’s premiership century goalkicker Patrick Ireland.

Ireland booted four goals in the grand final win against Ellinbank to take his season tally to 111.

In 2023, Ireland played for Gippsland league rival Warragul and Gippsland Power.

Leongatha recruited another young gun, Cooper Alger, from Warragul this year, but he and Jackson Harry missed the finals series due to injury.

Jake van der Pligt was also injured in the lead-up to the grand final and was ruled out.

Dual premiership coach Trent McMicking has been reappointed by Leongatha for 2025.