Dyson Heppell: Career, Name Change, Business Ventures & More

There are few careers in the AFL that have taken as many turns as Dyson Heppell’s. From being drafted by Essendon in 2010 to captaining the club through its most turbulent period, he has emerged on the other side as a leadership mentor and entrepreneur.

Full name: Dyson Turner-Heppell ·
Born: 14 May 1992 ·
Former club: Essendon (2011–2025) ·
Current club: Collingwood (as of 2026) ·
Instagram followers: 150,000

With seven key facts, one pattern: Heppell keeps building new careers. The numbers tell the story of a player who transitioned from on-field leader to off‑field entrepreneur while staying in the AFL ecosystem.

Who Is Dyson Heppell?

Early life and AFL career

• Born in Leongatha, Victoria, Heppell played junior football for Gippsland Power (Bravo Management).
• He was drafted with pick 8 in the 2010 AFL National Draft (Essendon Past Players).
• In his debut season (2011) he played every home‑and‑away match and earned an AFL Rising Star nomination (Essendon Past Players).

The implication: Heppell’s grounding in country football gave him resilience that would later prove critical.

Essendon captaincy and supplements scandal

Heppell was at the centre of the Essendon supplements scandal, described by Essendon Past Players as “the biggest scandal in sporting history”. He was 23 years old when the program was exposed. Despite the turmoil, he was appointed club captain in 2017 (Essendon FC). He held the role for six seasons before handing it to Zach Merrett in 2022.

Move to Collingwood

After 14 seasons and 253 games at Essendon, Heppell announced his retirement on 12 August 2024 (Essendon FC). However, the story didn’t end there. In 2026 he joined the Collingwood Football Club, transitioning into a development‑coach role (Collingwood FC). Heppell now works as a leadership mentor while playing a part‑time playing role.

The implication: Heppell’s move to Collingwood shows a player who refused to let retirement define him. Instead of walking away, he found a way to keep contributing–as a mentor, not just a midfielder.

What Was Dyson Heppell’s AFL Career?

Debut and early years at Essendon

• Heppell made his AFL debut in Round 1, 2011, against the Western Bulldogs (Essendon Past Players).
• He played all 22 games that season and won the AFL Rising Star award (Essendon FC).
• In 2014 he won the Crichton Medal (best and fairest) and was named All‑Australian (Bravo Management).

Captaincy (2017–2022)

Heppell was appointed Essendon’s captain in 2017, a role he held for six seasons. During his captaincy the club navigated the aftermath of the supplements ban and on‑field rebuild. He stepped down in 2022, handing the captaincy to Zach Merrett (Essendon FC).

Transition to Collingwood

After retiring from the AFL, Heppell joined Collingwood’s VFL side in 2026 and took on a coaching role. The club described him as a “former Essendon captain” who brings leadership experience to the younger squad.

What this means: Heppell’s career arc proves that adaptability can be as valuable as raw talent.

What Is Dyson Heppell’s Connection to Haych?

Co-founding Haych the Label

• Heppell’s Instagram bio lists him as a co‑founder of @haychthelabel (Instagram).
• The streetwear brand was launched in 2020 and focuses on limited‑edition drops.

Role as brand ambassador

Heppell is also an ambassador for Puma AU (Puma Australia via Instagram), and his personal brand extends to fitness and recovery.

Other business ventures (P3 Recovery Richmond)

He owns P3 Recovery Richmond, a wellness and recovery centre. The business is listed in his LinkedIn profile (LinkedIn). Combined with Haych the Label, these ventures show Heppell building a mini‑empire beyond footy.

What this means: Heppell is not just an ex‑player with a fashion brand. He’s actively creating a portfolio of businesses that rely on his personal credibility. The catch is that none of these ventures have disclosed revenue – the public knows they exist, but not how well they perform.

Why Did Dyson Heppell Change His Name?

Legal name change to Dyson Turner-Heppell

• Wikipedia lists his name as Dyson Turner‑Heppell (né Heppell) (Wikipedia).
• The change is publicly documented, but Heppell has not given an official explanation.

Possible reasons and public statements

No official reason has been provided by Heppell or his management. Speculation suggests a personal family tribute or marriage, but nothing has been confirmed. This remains one of the unanswered questions about his personal life.

The pattern: While Heppell is open about his professional life, he keeps his private life guarded. The name change is a public fact, but the motive behind it is a gap in the public record.

What Happened During the Essendon Supplements Scandal?

Background of the supplements program

• From 2011 to 2013, Essendon ran a supplements program that led to the infamous drugs investigation.
• The club was eventually found guilty of administering a banned substance (Thymosin beta‑4).
• Heppell was a young player in the squad when the program was active.

Heppell’s role and choices

According to Essendon Past Players, Heppell “was at the centre of the biggest scandal in sporting history”. He later spoke on The Imperfects podcast about the forgiveness journey and how he processed the aftermath.

Aftermath and impact on his career

The scandal cast a shadow over Essendon for years. Heppell’s captaincy began just as the club was emerging from it. Many players lost endorsements or left, but Heppell stayed and became the face of the rebuild. The experience shaped his leadership style and later his mentoring work.

The pattern: Heppell turned the deepest crisis of his club into the foundation of his leadership identity.

Timeline

The following timeline captures the major milestones in Heppell’s professional life.

The implication: The timeline shows a career that refused to follow a straight line – retirement was not the end, but a pivot.

Clarity check

Confirmed facts

• Full name changed to Dyson Turner‑Heppell (Wikipedia)
• Played for Essendon and Collingwood (Essendon FC)
• Was Essendon captain from 2017 to 2022 (Essendon FC)
• Co‑founded Haych the Label (Instagram)
• Owns P3 Recovery Richmond (Bravo Management)
• Appeared on The Imperfects podcast (Essendon Past Players)

What’s unclear

• Marital status
• Whether he has children
• Details about his son
• Brother’s identity
• Net worth
• Exact reason for name change

The pattern: What is known about Heppell is overwhelmingly professional; his private life remains largely off‑limits.

Voices on Heppell

“Heppell was at the centre of the biggest scandal in sporting history.”

– The Imperfects podcast description, via Essendon Past Players

“Former AFL Captain | Leadership Mentor.”

– LinkedIn profile headline (LinkedIn)

“Co-founder @haychthelabel | Ambassador @pumaau | Owner @p3recovery_richmond.”

– Instagram bio (Instagram)

“Dyson Heppell joined the Pies in 2026 as a former Essendon captain.”

– Collingwood FC news article

These voices from different corners of his career – podcast, professional network, social media, and club – each highlight a distinct facet of Heppell’s transition.

Summary

Dyson Heppell’s career is a masterclass in reinvention. He entered the league as a promising youngster, survived the deepest crisis the club had faced, captained the side for six years, and then pivoted into business and coaching. For young athletes watching, the implication is clear: build a second career before you leave the first, or risk being defined by a single chapter. For Heppell, that chapter was the scandal. The new one is still being written.

A closer look at Dyson Heppell’s name change and coaching career can be found in Dyson Heppells name change and coaching.

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