Essendon great Dyson Heppell to join Collingwood in development coach role

Essendon champion Dyson Heppell has joined arch rival Collingwood in a development role.

The former Bombers captain will officially start at the Magpies early next year.

The popular figure called time on his glittering career at Essendon at the end of 2024.

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Heppell, 33, played in the VFL this year for Port Melbourne and also played in a grand final for Leongatha (he was named in their best players) in the Gippsland League.

In his time at Essendon, Heppell never played in a finals win across a 14-year career.

But he was always loyal to the club despite his career running across Essendon’s debilitating supplements saga.

Even at the end of this year, Heppell was at the national draft handing out Essendon jumpers to the club’s freshly acquired talent.

His decision to join Collingwood will shock Essendon fans, with the Magpies a ferocious rival of the Bombers.

The Victorian clubs have the most premierships in the competition (both on 16 along with Carlton) and face off against each other annually in the blockbuster Anzac Day clash at the MCG.

Collingwood coach Craig McRae is remodelling his football team after some key departures in the aftermath to their preliminary finals loss to Brisbane.

After a three-year sting with Collingwood, VFL coach Andy Otten departed the club to “explore other opportunities”. He has been replaced by former Collingwood player Matthew Lokan.

Assistants Scott Selwood and Josh Fraser also left the club at the end of this year with Fraser joining Carlton.

Collingwood premiership defender Tyson Goldsack has also returned to the club and taken up an assistant coaching position.

Goldsack had previously been at Port Adelaide.

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