Rutten keen to keep skipper with Bombers
ESSENDON coach Ben Rutten says he “absolutely” wants Dyson Heppell at the club next year despite his captain still being without a contract offer for 2023.
Heppell is one of only four Bombers players to have featured in all 16 games this year and has found his groove after a slow start to the season.
Essendon’s captain since 2017, Heppell has indicated he wants to play on and has come into recruiting discussions among other clubs given his unclear contract situation at Tullamarine.
“We’re talking with Dyson about what that looks like,” Rutten said of a new deal for Heppell. “So that won’t be too far off, but we’re pretty clear with Dyse, communicating with him about all that.
“The first half of the year was challenging for a lot of our more experienced players, just through the circumstances. We were asking a bit of them.
“But in the last six or eight weeks, in particular, we have been able to stabilise where he (Heppell) has been playing, his role, and he’s been playing some really good footy.”
Heppell turned 30 in May and would be unlikely to continue as captain if he was to remain at Essendon.
However, those conversations have yet to take place.
“That’s something that I want Dyse to be a part of,” Rutten said.
“He’s been such an important leader for us and such an important member of our club. But that’s probably secondary at the moment for us.”
Rutten said Heppell would also be unlikely to be guaranteed regular senior games if he did play on at the club, given his age.
The Bombers have announced a two-year contract extension for vice-captain Andy McGrath, which ties the former No.1 draft pick to the club until at least the end of 2024.