Overview
- Heppell will begin with the Magpies in the New Year ahead of the 2026 season.
- The 33-year-old played 253 AFL games for Essendon, captained from 2017 to 2022, and earned 2014 All-Australian and Crichton Medal honors.
- In 2025 he played VFL with Port Melbourne and featured in Leongatha's Gippsland League grand final.
- Collingwood has been expanding its development ranks under coach Craig McRae after September's preliminary final loss to Brisbane.
- Recent staff changes include Matthew Lokan replacing Andy Otten as VFL coach, Tyson Goldsack joining as an assistant, and the departures of Scott Selwood and Josh Fraser, with Fraser moving to Carlton.