Essendon head coach Ben Rutten announced on Wednesday morning that the club's captain, Dyson Heppell, had surgery on a troublesome thumb injury earlier this morning.
Rutten, currently in his first year in the role, stated that although the 29-year-old went under the knife, the procedure was only minor and that he expected his formerly dreadlocked leader to only miss a week of action.
Rutten on Dyson Heppell: He had a little thumb operation this morning, so he won’t play this week. Hopefully it’ll just be a week.
— Essendon FC (@essendonfc) July 7, 2021
Since shifting to the half-back flank this season, Heppell has recaptured the form that saw him claim the Bombers' best and fairest award in 2014 and All Australian honours in the same season.
The 2011 Rising Star winner has averaged 24.8 disposals and 28.4 rebound-50s across his 13-appearances this year.
Although Heppell has been ruled out of Essendon's clash with Adelaide this Friday night, if Rutten's assessment is correct, the former first round draft pick will be back for the Dons' grudge match against old-rivals North Melbourne in Round 18.
