Essendon skipper Dyson Heppell has revealed that the Bombers' brains trust waited until the night before the 2011 National Draft to interview him - and doing so while Heppell was camping with his family.

Speaking to Darcy Parish and Andrew McGrath on The 'Rish and 'Rath podcast produced by the Essendon Football Cub, Heppell laughed when recounting how Adrian Dordoro, James Hird and Danny Corcoran ambushed him at a campground the night before the draft.

"I'd ended up getting interviewed by every club, bar Essendon. I was a bit flat," explained Heppell, a lifelong Bombers fan.

"I was keen as to be interviewed by (James Hird), so I could meet my childhood hero. It never eventuated."

A likely top-five selection, Heppell and his family flew up to the Gold Coast a week before the draft was to be held there, opting to spend some time at Burleigh Heads.

The night before the draft was held, Adrian Dodoro rang Heppell after rumours abounded that Heppell was to slide to Essendon's pick 8.

"We're sitting in the campsite (on) camp chairs...we had AD (Dordoro), Danny Corcoran, 'Hirdy' and a couple of other recruiters come in and sit around on camp chairs around our tent," said Heppell.

"That was my first interview with the club...I was sitting there with my two brothers in singlets and boardies."

Heppell was told that if he were to fall to pick 8, he would be selected by the Bombers, which duly happened the evening after.

"I was like, 'this is ridiculous'. I could not believe it," laughed Heppell.

Essendon didn't scare off the talented Heppell, who will play his 200th game this weekend against Sydney.

The 29-year-old from Leongatha has led the Bombers since being named captain in 2017.