Former Essendon Bombers star Dyson Heppell confident John Worsfold can help to re-build West Coast Eagles

Former Essendon captain Dyson Heppell has declared John Worsfold’s return to West Coast is massive for the club, saying his former coach is the perfect person to help the Eagles to rise back up the ladder.

Worsfold was appointed as West Coast’s Head of Football in October, returning to the club in an official capacity for the first time since resigning as coach in 2013.

A dual premiership captain and a premiership coach, Worsfold is an Eagles icon but he also coached Essendon for five seasons and appointed Heppell as captain in 2017.

The Bombers crashed into turmoil just months after Worsfold was appointed after the the Australian Sports Anti-Doping Authority suspended the team’s core for 12 months.

Heppell, who is in Perth for a series of speaking engagements at The Sporting Globe this weekend, was among those banned. He said the way Worsfold re-built Essendon meant he was the perfect person to oversee West Coast’s fightback from winning just 10 games in three seasons.

“He’s got a wealth of experience from his time not only as a player but also as a coach. He’s just so measured in the way he goes about it,” Heppell told The Sunday Times.

“He knows what a quality team and a quality environment looks like. He’ll be big on helping to set a real foundation and standard for the group.

“Woosh is a bit of a king over here. I loved my time under him as the senior coach at Essendon. His ability to motivate and give some real perspective as well will be really important for a young group.

“They’re bringing in some amazing talent as well. You can certainly sense a meteoric rise in certain element.

“There’s no doubt they can re-build quickly. If they can get themselves to a position where guys really want to come there and be part of the culture, things can shift quickly.”

Heppell spent Saturday speaking at functions at The Sporting Globe in Mandurah and Rockingham. He will also speak at The Sporting Globe in Floreat on Sunday after being brought to Perth by Alfa Management.

Heppell played 253 games for the Bombers and never played in a winning final but is confident coach Brad Scott has can lift the club to its first finals win since 2004.

“I’m a bullish optimist,” he said.

“I’m really looking forward to what the boys can do in the coming years. We’ve brought some great talent in through the draft. I’ll be one of the biggest fans watching on.”