Dyson Heppell v Zach Merrett
In an effort to look at some positives, our next match up is between two of our brightest young stars. Obviously this is going to have a bit of crystal ball gazing attached to it but we have enough of a sample size to begin with some kind of comparison between our two young guns.
Tale of the tape;
Heppell stands at 189 cm and weighs 81 kgs, he has played 97 games and kicked 28 goals.
Merrett stands at 179 cm and weighs 75 kgs, he has played 32 games and kicked 13 goals
Pre draft Years
Heppell Played for the Gippsland power in the 2009 and 2010 seasons in the TAC cup. He gained the captaincy of the side in 2010 playing mainly as a line breaking defender. Heppell modelled his game on Brisbane lions defender Josh Drummond who was known for his line breaking and lethal left foot kicking. However later in the season he moved into the midfield where he gained maximum possible votes from rounds 13 – 17 in the Morrish medal, thrusting the power into 6th place and an unlikely finals berth. Heppell heroically carried the power all the way to the grand final from 6th, amassing 36 disposals in the preliminary final but was out classed in the grand final, amassing 20 possessions as the Cannons dominated. He was chosen in the All Australian team and touted as a top 5 draft prospect, some even saying top 3. He performed well in the draft camp but rumours of groin troubles, which Heppell himself denied, had him slide to Essendon, the club he supported, at pick 8.
Merrett was a promising junior cricketer but made the choice late to focus on football. The minute he made focus he had a break out year for the Sandringham dragons, averaging 25 disposals as a high half forward. His coach named him the most coachable player he has ever worked with. He played every game for Vic country impressing recruiters who suggested he was the best kick in the draft. Merrett rated as the quickest decision maker at the draft combine of all players, he was in the mix for pick 15, and 17 but eventually slid to a happy Essendon at 26 to play alongside his brother Jackson.
Strengths and weaknesses;
Heppell has a huge tank, he ran over 14 beep in his draft combine. He just grinds away all game getting to contest after contest. He is great inside the contest at reading the ball from the ruck, taking possession and finding a way through traffic with poise and movement. He is tall for a midfielder and ranked 3rd for vertical jump at the combine but I wouldn’t say he uses this to his advantage as he isn’t too much of an aerialist. He is however a strong tackler and strong enough through the core to break tackles. He makes good decisions by hand but his kick can lack zip and penetration, he would prefer to make shorter easier kicks it would seem. He is also not the quickest over the ground, he cuts the angles OK being a smart footballer but can be taken advantage of by a quick opponent. He shows strong leadership for somebody so young and looks a future captain.
Merrett came to the club known for his fast decision making skills, sharp left foot kick and turn of pace but he has already matured into much much more than that. But I won’t fap too much too soon… first of all he is absolutely tenacious in the tackle, he latches on, and doesn’t let go, front on, side on, whichever way, he stops them in their tracks.. if he misses one, he goes hunting the next. He is extremely good in close, at getting the ball and making the right decision, whether it by via a quick handball, a quick kick, or bursting away from the cluster with a turn of pace and using his deadly left leg to full effect. He has a strong, low centre of gravity making him hard to knock off the ball, and he is good using both sides of his body. He is also a very good crafty shot for goal. When looking for weaknesses I don’t find very many at the moment, he is playing well above his years (and draft pick) at present. If anything he could work on a larger tank to do to stay damaging for longer periods in the middle but it’s a small gripe, if I can even call it that. He can also try to do to much with his kick.. but at the moment I think our structure isn’t allowing him to use his skill to the fullest, looking up to find no one ahead. He is showing such strong leadership in a difficult time for our club – it belies his years.
Career to date
Heppell had a flying start to his career, camped across half back he received a rising star nomination in his first game and never looked back going on to average 21 disposals a game in his first season and winning the rising star trophy. He didn’t suffer from second year blues, putting out an identical output in year two, averaging 21 disposals but began showing signs of moves into the middle. In year three Heppell made a full time move into the centre and bumped his average up to 24 disposals per game and began to look like he could be an elite AFL player, he had a stellar 2014 bumping his average up to an insane 28 disposals a game, winning the Essendon best and fairest in the process and gaining all Australian selection and 14 Brownlow votes. His career couldn’t possible continue raising at the same upward trajectory thus this year for a variety of reasons he has dipped slightly, still averaging a 26 disposals a game but with a noticeable drop in impact on games. He has begun to have a greater presence in the media and is beginning to look like a humble heart and soul type of player for our club.
Merrett made his debut in the first game of his inaugural season coming on as a sub. It was quickly apparent his skills were best utilised on the ground rather as sitting inside a green vest so he went on to play 20 games in his first season, averaging 15.5 disposals a game and 4 tackles, including a massive 10 vs the gold coast. He finished top 5 in the rising star but i think criminally underrated. In year two he stepped into the midfield and has already bumped his average up over 21 possessions a game, the same amount Heppell averaged in his second year, he also now averages 5.5 tackles per game and would have to be vying pretty close for Essendon best and fairest honours with Michael Hurley. He looks a very extroverted player who has supreme confidence in his own talents, happy to try things other players might not.
Analysis
Clearly these two guys are different types of players and if you look at it clearly, they complement each other perfectly and it bodes well for our future midfield (if not already) but VERSUS has never shied away from the tough calls, we are here to compare these two guns and choose who is or will be the better player. Our previous articles were very difficult, as this one is, plus we have to crystal ball which makes it even harder.
Heppells body of work already has him clearly ahead but how high is his ceiling? Does he have much further to go? Or will he maintain this output (which is more than acceptable) for the next decade? He just knocks up getting the ball and generally makes something happen with it. I feel like Merrett was a late starter to playing football, so he probably didn’t get the chance to build a tank early – he had never even done a proper pre-season prior to being drafted. But he obviously is one of those types of athletes who has tremendous skills and self-confidence who was able to get by on it alone. I feel like he has more tools at his disposal to become an elite game changing player, with more bombastic physical traits and a penetrating skill set than Heppell. When he gets it, something happens, when he doesn’t have it, he makes them earn it.
So I know it’s going to be like choosing which of your kids you love the best, but it’s time to vote. For the sake of this poll we will clarify the terms, at the end of their careers (no injuries) who will be the better/more valuable player.
Love as always to hear your thoughts.
In an effort to look at some positives, our next match up is between two of our brightest young stars. Obviously this is going to have a bit of crystal ball gazing attached to it but we have enough of a sample size to begin with some kind of comparison between our two young guns.
Tale of the tape;
Heppell stands at 189 cm and weighs 81 kgs, he has played 97 games and kicked 28 goals.
Merrett stands at 179 cm and weighs 75 kgs, he has played 32 games and kicked 13 goals
Pre draft Years
Heppell Played for the Gippsland power in the 2009 and 2010 seasons in the TAC cup. He gained the captaincy of the side in 2010 playing mainly as a line breaking defender. Heppell modelled his game on Brisbane lions defender Josh Drummond who was known for his line breaking and lethal left foot kicking. However later in the season he moved into the midfield where he gained maximum possible votes from rounds 13 – 17 in the Morrish medal, thrusting the power into 6th place and an unlikely finals berth. Heppell heroically carried the power all the way to the grand final from 6th, amassing 36 disposals in the preliminary final but was out classed in the grand final, amassing 20 possessions as the Cannons dominated. He was chosen in the All Australian team and touted as a top 5 draft prospect, some even saying top 3. He performed well in the draft camp but rumours of groin troubles, which Heppell himself denied, had him slide to Essendon, the club he supported, at pick 8.
Merrett was a promising junior cricketer but made the choice late to focus on football. The minute he made focus he had a break out year for the Sandringham dragons, averaging 25 disposals as a high half forward. His coach named him the most coachable player he has ever worked with. He played every game for Vic country impressing recruiters who suggested he was the best kick in the draft. Merrett rated as the quickest decision maker at the draft combine of all players, he was in the mix for pick 15, and 17 but eventually slid to a happy Essendon at 26 to play alongside his brother Jackson.
Strengths and weaknesses;
Heppell has a huge tank, he ran over 14 beep in his draft combine. He just grinds away all game getting to contest after contest. He is great inside the contest at reading the ball from the ruck, taking possession and finding a way through traffic with poise and movement. He is tall for a midfielder and ranked 3rd for vertical jump at the combine but I wouldn’t say he uses this to his advantage as he isn’t too much of an aerialist. He is however a strong tackler and strong enough through the core to break tackles. He makes good decisions by hand but his kick can lack zip and penetration, he would prefer to make shorter easier kicks it would seem. He is also not the quickest over the ground, he cuts the angles OK being a smart footballer but can be taken advantage of by a quick opponent. He shows strong leadership for somebody so young and looks a future captain.
Merrett came to the club known for his fast decision making skills, sharp left foot kick and turn of pace but he has already matured into much much more than that. But I won’t fap too much too soon… first of all he is absolutely tenacious in the tackle, he latches on, and doesn’t let go, front on, side on, whichever way, he stops them in their tracks.. if he misses one, he goes hunting the next. He is extremely good in close, at getting the ball and making the right decision, whether it by via a quick handball, a quick kick, or bursting away from the cluster with a turn of pace and using his deadly left leg to full effect. He has a strong, low centre of gravity making him hard to knock off the ball, and he is good using both sides of his body. He is also a very good crafty shot for goal. When looking for weaknesses I don’t find very many at the moment, he is playing well above his years (and draft pick) at present. If anything he could work on a larger tank to do to stay damaging for longer periods in the middle but it’s a small gripe, if I can even call it that. He can also try to do to much with his kick.. but at the moment I think our structure isn’t allowing him to use his skill to the fullest, looking up to find no one ahead. He is showing such strong leadership in a difficult time for our club – it belies his years.
Career to date
Heppell had a flying start to his career, camped across half back he received a rising star nomination in his first game and never looked back going on to average 21 disposals a game in his first season and winning the rising star trophy. He didn’t suffer from second year blues, putting out an identical output in year two, averaging 21 disposals but began showing signs of moves into the middle. In year three Heppell made a full time move into the centre and bumped his average up to 24 disposals per game and began to look like he could be an elite AFL player, he had a stellar 2014 bumping his average up to an insane 28 disposals a game, winning the Essendon best and fairest in the process and gaining all Australian selection and 14 Brownlow votes. His career couldn’t possible continue raising at the same upward trajectory thus this year for a variety of reasons he has dipped slightly, still averaging a 26 disposals a game but with a noticeable drop in impact on games. He has begun to have a greater presence in the media and is beginning to look like a humble heart and soul type of player for our club.
Merrett made his debut in the first game of his inaugural season coming on as a sub. It was quickly apparent his skills were best utilised on the ground rather as sitting inside a green vest so he went on to play 20 games in his first season, averaging 15.5 disposals a game and 4 tackles, including a massive 10 vs the gold coast. He finished top 5 in the rising star but i think criminally underrated. In year two he stepped into the midfield and has already bumped his average up over 21 possessions a game, the same amount Heppell averaged in his second year, he also now averages 5.5 tackles per game and would have to be vying pretty close for Essendon best and fairest honours with Michael Hurley. He looks a very extroverted player who has supreme confidence in his own talents, happy to try things other players might not.
Analysis
Clearly these two guys are different types of players and if you look at it clearly, they complement each other perfectly and it bodes well for our future midfield (if not already) but VERSUS has never shied away from the tough calls, we are here to compare these two guns and choose who is or will be the better player. Our previous articles were very difficult, as this one is, plus we have to crystal ball which makes it even harder.
Heppells body of work already has him clearly ahead but how high is his ceiling? Does he have much further to go? Or will he maintain this output (which is more than acceptable) for the next decade? He just knocks up getting the ball and generally makes something happen with it. I feel like Merrett was a late starter to playing football, so he probably didn’t get the chance to build a tank early – he had never even done a proper pre-season prior to being drafted. But he obviously is one of those types of athletes who has tremendous skills and self-confidence who was able to get by on it alone. I feel like he has more tools at his disposal to become an elite game changing player, with more bombastic physical traits and a penetrating skill set than Heppell. When he gets it, something happens, when he doesn’t have it, he makes them earn it.
So I know it’s going to be like choosing which of your kids you love the best, but it’s time to vote. For the sake of this poll we will clarify the terms, at the end of their careers (no injuries) who will be the better/more valuable player.
Love as always to hear your thoughts.
