was suspended for two years which, with backdating, ended in November 2016; as a result, he served approximately fourteen months of his suspension and missed the entire 2016 AFL season. In February 2017, Heppell was announced as Essendon's new captain, taking over from Brendon Goddard. In December 2019, he signed a two-year contract extension with Essendon, keeping him at the club until 2022. He re-signed for 2023 but stepped down as captain after six seasons in the role. Statistics Statistics are correct to the end of round 6, 2022. |- style=background:#EAEAEA | scope=row | 2011 || || 21 | 23 || 3 || 4 || 262 || 231 || 493 || 132 || 63 || 0.1 || 0.2 || 11.4 || 10.0 || 21.4 || 5.7 || 2.7 || 4 |- | scope=row | 2012 || || 21 | 20 || 3 || 3 || 250 || 180 || 430 || 113 || 59 || 0.2 || 0.2 || 12.5 || 9.0 || 21.5 || 5.6 || 3.0 || 3 |- style=background:#EAEAEA | scope=row | 2013 || || 21 | 19 || 8 || 11 || 269 || 192 || 461 || 88 || 74 || 0.4 || 0.6 || 14.2 || 10.1 || 24.3 || 4.6 || 3.9 || 10 |- | scope=row | 2014 || || 21 | 22 || 6 || 6 || 332 || 294 || 626 || 116 || 99 || 0.3 || 0.3 || 15.1 || 13.4 || 28.4 || 5.3 || 4.5 || 14 |- style=background:#EAEAEA | scope=row | 2015 || || 21 | 22 || 13 || 8 || 304 || 262 || 566 || 87 || 105 || 0.6 || 0.4 || 13.8 || 11.9 || 25.7 || 4.0 || 4.8 || 10 |- | scope=row | 2016 || || 21 | 0 || — || — || — || — || — || — || — || — || — || — || — || — || — || — || 0 |- style=background:#EAEAEA | scope=row | 2017 || || 21 | 23 || 12 || 8 || 314 || 292 || 606 || 118 || 96 || 0.5 || 0.3 || 13.7 || 12.7 || 26.3 || 5.1 || 4.2 || 14 |- | scope=row | 2018 || || 21 | 22 || 10 || 4 || 327 || 263 || 590 || 122 || 87 || 0.5 ||