Heppell began playing football with Leongatha Football Club,[REF] and played for Gippsland Power in the TAC Cup for the 2009 and 2010 seasons [REF].
Heppell finished strongly in the Morrish Medal count, which is awarded to the best and fairest player in the TAC Cup regular season, eventually tying for the award with Jackson Sketcher of the Sandringham Dragons, after achieving the maximum votes possible from rounds 13 to 17 [REF].