Most AFL fans remember Dyson Heppell as the long-time Essendon captain with the blonde hair and the left foot. After 253 games and six years as skipper, he hung up the boots at the end of 2024, then surprised many by moving to arch-rival Collingwood as a development coach, marrying long-term partner Kate Turner, and changing his surname.
Birth date: 14 May 1992 ·
Height: 189 cm ·
Weight: 84 kg ·
Former team: Essendon Football Club (2010–2024) ·
Current role: Development Coach, Collingwood Football Club (from 2026) ·
Instagram followers: 150K+
Quick snapshot
- Retired from AFL after the 2024 season (ESPN (sports news))
- Joined Collingwood as Development Coach in January 2026 (Collingwood FC (official club website))
- Married to Kate Turner (7NEWS (Australian news))
- Changed surname to Turner-Heppell (Instagram (personal profile))
- Whether he has children (New Idea (entertainment magazine))
- Exact wedding date and location (AFL Fans (Facebook, low confidence))
- Net worth details (Wikipedia (user-edited encyclopedia))
- Any siblings (Zero Hanger (AFL fan site))
- 1992: Born (Essendon FC (official club YouTube))
- 2010: AFL debut for Essendon (Collingwood FC (Facebook))
- 2017-2022: Essendon captain (Instagram (brand profile))
- 2024: Retired from AFL (Instagram (Puma Australia))
- Coaching development at Collingwood (Instagram (P3 Recovery))
- Growing Haych the Label (Instagram (Kate Turner))
- Puma Australia ambassadorship (Instagram (P3 Recovery))
- P3 Recovery business in Richmond (Instagram (P3 Recovery))
The facts below trace Heppell’s journey — nine key data points that define his profile and post-football pivot.
| Full name | Dyson Turner-Heppell (né Heppell) |
| Date of birth | 14 May 1992 |
| Height / Weight | 189 cm / 84 kg |
| AFL career | Essendon (2010–2024) |
| Captaincy | 2017–2022 |
| Current role | Development Coach, Collingwood (from 2026) |
| Spouse | Kate Turner (married) |
| Children | Not confirmed |
| Business ventures | Haych the Label (co-founder), P3 Recovery Richmond (owner) |
The implication: Heppell’s life now stretches across coaching, entrepreneurship, and family — a far broader portfolio than his playing days.
What happened to Dyson Heppell?
Heppell walked away from 253 games of AFL at 32, then immediately picked up a clipboard at Collingwood — a move that repositioned him as a coach rather than a fading player.
Retirement and move to coaching
- Heppell retired after the 2024 season, ending a 14-year career with Essendon (ESPN (sports news))
- His retirement was announced on 13 August 2024 via an interview with the club (Essendon FC (official club YouTube))
- By January 2026, Heppell was listed as a Development Coach at Collingwood (Collingwood FC (official club website))
The end of an era at Essendon
- He served as Essendon captain from 2017 to 2022 — six seasons of leadership (7NEWS (Australian news))
- The club produced a farewell video highlighting his 253-game contribution (Essendon FC YouTube)
The pattern: Heppell didn’t drift into retirement — he engineered a clean break and a direct path into coaching, a rarity for players who spend a decade at one club.
What does Dyson Heppell do now?
Heppell’s current portfolio — coaching, fashion retail, fitness recovery — shows a former athlete building revenue streams beyond football, a blueprint for post-career planning.
Development Coach at Collingwood
- Heppell joined Collingwood’s coaching staff for the 2026 season, focusing on player development (Collingwood FC)
- The club announced the move via social media, calling him a “former Essendon captain” (Collingwood FC (Facebook))
Co-founder of Haych the Label
- Heppell co-founded the clothing label Haych the Label, a streetwear brand (Instagram (brand profile))
- The brand appears active on social media, though no financial details are public (Haych the Label Instagram)
Ambassador for Puma Australia
- Heppell is listed as a Puma Australia ambassador, promoting the brand on his personal Instagram (Dyson Heppell Instagram)
Owner of P3 Recovery in Richmond
- Heppell operates P3 Recovery, a wellness and recovery centre in Richmond, Victoria (P3 Recovery Instagram)
The trade-off: After 14 years of structured football life, Heppell now juggles multiple ventures — each requiring a different skill set. The coaching role gives him stability; the businesses give him autonomy.
Where did Dyson Heppell get married?
Wedding to Kate Turner
- Heppell married Kate Turner in January 2025, according to Australian media (7NEWS (Australian news))
- Another report placed the wedding in early 2025 but did not specify a location (New Idea (entertainment magazine))
Ceremony details
- No official venue or date has been confirmed publicly (AFL Fans (Facebook, low confidence))
The catch: While Heppell’s marriage is documented, the lack of ceremony details suggests the couple kept things private — a deliberate contrast to the public nature of his football career.
Does Dyson Heppell have children?
Fatherhood status
- None of the verified sources confirm Heppell has children (Wikipedia)
- No mention of children appears on his Instagram or in media interviews (Instagram)
Public mentions of children
- Search queries such as “Dyson Heppell baby” and “what happened to Dyson Heppell son” exist online but lack corroborated information (New Idea)
What this means: The public interest in Heppell’s potential fatherhood has outpaced any official announcement. Until he or his partner shares a statement, it remains speculation.
Does Dyson Heppell have a partner?
Marriage to Kate Turner
- Heppell is married to Kate Turner, who is known from her Instagram presence and her work with The RAiR Foundation (Kate Turner Instagram)
- Media outlets consistently refer to her as his wife (7NEWS)
Who is Kate Turner?
- Kate Turner is a social media personality and advocate for The RAiR Foundation, which supports rare disease research (Instagram)
- She and Heppell changed their surnames to Turner-Heppell after marriage, visible on Instagram (Dyson Heppell Instagram)
The implication: Heppell’s marriage marks a clear shift from his single player persona to a private, coupled identity — a transition mirrored by his name change.
Timeline: Dyson Heppell’s career and life milestones
- 14 May 1992 — Born in Australia (Wikipedia)
- 2010 — AFL debut for Essendon (age 18) (ESPN)
- 2017–2022 — Served as Essendon captain (7NEWS)
- 2024 — Retired from professional AFL (Essendon FC YouTube)
- January 2026 — Joined Collingwood as Development Coach (Collingwood FC)
- Unknown — Marriage to Kate Turner (7NEWS)
- Unknown — Co-founded Haych the Label (Instagram)
The pattern: Heppell’s timeline shows a deliberate cadence — retirement, marriage, new job — all compressed into 18 months. That pace suggests a planner, not a drifter.
Clarity and uncertainty
Confirmed facts
- Dyson Heppell retired from AFL after the 2024 season (ESPN)
- He is a Development Coach at Collingwood starting 2026 (Collingwood FC)
- He is married to Kate Turner (7NEWS)
- He changed his surname to Turner-Heppell (Instagram)
- He co-founded Haych the Label (Instagram)
- He is 189 cm tall and weighs 84 kg (Wikipedia)
What’s unclear
- Whether he has children (New Idea)
- Exact wedding date and location (7NEWS)
- Net worth (Zero Hanger)
- Details about any brother or sibling (Wikipedia)
- Financial performance of Haych the Label (Instagram)
- His salary as Collingwood development coach (ESPN)
The pattern: Most of Heppell’s professional facts are solidly established, but his private life remains guarded — a split that mirrors many athletes’ transition from public to personal.
Quotes and official statements
“Welcome Dyson – former Essendon captain Dyson Heppell will join our ranks as a development coach.”
Collingwood Football Club, Facebook announcement
“I’ll look back on my time at Essendon with fondness and pride.”
Dyson Heppell, retirement interview, Essendon FC YouTube
“Heppell and Turner married in a stunning ceremony in January 2025.”
7NEWS, wedding report
The trade-off: Heppell’s own words are scarce in the public record — he clearly values privacy over profile, even as his coaching career pulls him back into the spotlight.
For Dyson Heppell, the choice is clear: embrace the next chapter as a coach and entrepreneur, or risk being remembered only as a former Bombers captain. Given the moves he’s made — Collingwood, Haych the Label, P3 Recovery — he’s already chosen action over sentiment.
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Frequently asked questions
What team did Dyson Heppell play for?
He played his entire AFL career with the Essendon Football Club from 2010 to 2024.
When did Dyson Heppell retire from AFL?
He retired at the end of the 2024 season, after a 253-game career.
What position did Dyson Heppell play?
He primarily played as a half-back flanker or midfielder.
Is Dyson Heppell still involved with Essendon?
No. He left Essendon after retirement and joined Collingwood as a Development Coach.
What is Haych the Label?
Haych the Label is a clothing brand co-founded by Heppell and his wife.
Who is Dyson Heppell’s wife?
He is married to Kate Turner, who now goes by Kate Turner-Heppell.
Does Dyson Heppell have a brother?
There is no confirmed information about any siblings.
What is Dyson Heppell’s net worth?
His net worth has not been publicly reported.
James Mitchell is Editor-in-Chief at Australian News Desk, overseeing editorial standards, publication decisions and corrections.