Essendon’s Dyson Heppell called time on his decorated 14-year career earlier this week.

The former captain and club life member has played 252 games, earned himself All-Australian honours in 2014 and the Crichton Medal in that same year.

When Heppell was drafted to the Bombers back in 2010, Jobe Watson had just finished up his first season as skipper.

Watson recalled a conversation he had with coach James Hird about Heppell just after he was drafted.

“I remember ‘Hirdy’ at the time had told me that he met him in a tent as he was camping up on the Gold Coast where the draft was happening,” Watson told SEN Breakfast.

“He said, ‘we’ve taken this kid from Leongatha, he’s someone that you’ll really like, he’s a good country kid’.

“From the moment he walked into the club he had such a great nature about him and he had a real willingness to work and to listen.

“There’s no surprise he had the career he did because he had that approach from the moment he walked into the club.”

Watson spoke further about Heppell’s personal qualities that allowed him to connect with people at the club which prepared him to be a true leader at Essendon.

“He made people feel very welcome and comfortable around him and I think that that’s something that held him in such good stead for his leadership, because he was able to connect with people really well and he made people feel special,” he added.

“He had a really kind nature about he approached things.”

Heppell was selected with Pick 8 in the 2010 draft, and had an excellent debut season that saw him win the 2011 Rising star award.

Watson recalled how quickly Heppell became comfortable at AFL level after collecting 20 disposals in his first game.

“He sort of burst on the scene really, we played him in that half-back role which really suited him because he read the game so well and he was a good runner, had good size and was a good user,” Watson remembered.

“From the moment he started you can see and normally tell with guys who have a really high football IQ and he was one of the guys that stood out straight away and had a good work ethic as well.”

Watson was asked if he believes Essendon should honour Heppell with a farewell game as their season looks all but over if they cannot beat Sydney this weekend.

“I think it’s a nice thing to do if the club can manufacture it and given what happened on the weekend it’s going to be very hard for them to play finals so you’d love for him to get a final game given where the team is standing, but I’m not the coach so I don’t make those decisions,” Watson said.

With the Dons now appearing certain to miss finals, we’ll wait to see if Heppell gets a farewell game against Brisbane at the Gabba next weekend.