Essendon captain Dyson Heppell says the Bombers have never made more progress in a single season in his time at the club than this year.

Speaking ahead of his 150^th game when the side takes on Richmond at the MCG on Friday night, Heppell said his team’s ladder position doesn’t represent its improvements in 2018.

“It’s a funny one that, I feel like we’ve developed a hell of a lot this year and it may not have shown on the ladder at this stage,” Heppell said.

“(We are) still a sneaky sniff for finals, which is really exciting.

“The inroads we’ve made I think have been far greater than any other season that I’ve been a part of the footy club and that’s been super, I’ve had a really enjoyable season of footy.”

Heppell was always destined to be a star, kicking off his career brilliantly to claim the NAB AFL Rising Star in 2011 – becoming the club’s first winner of the prestigious event.

“That was a huge honour, I’m very proud of that achievement. Especially in the name of Ron Evans as well, so having that link to the footy club,” he said.

“We’ve had Pidge (Andrew McGrath) come through since (to win the award) and I think that’s fantastic to have a couple of Rising Stars at the club.

He said having the chance – much like McGrath – to settle into AFL football as a defender allowed him to feel more comfortable at the top level before he developed his craft as an on-baller.

Heppell credits a number of players and coaches with his sharp rise, which saw him win the Crichton Medal and All-Australian selection in just his fourth season.

“My development was a really smooth process coming from a half-back role in my first year and having the play coming at you, and then developing more into a midfielder under the guidance of Simon Goodwin and learning a lot off some other quality players in the side.

“And then just trying to forge my way into the midfield and I guess (I) really cemented my spot from there.

“Jobe (Watson) is super – obviously one of the stars of the comp – but just the work ethic of guys like Brent Stanton, watching the way he goes about it, it was fantastic to have him around.

“We’ve still got (David Myers) around, but he was a strong bull in there that you go, ‘That’s the way you want to win your contested footy’… so I learnt plenty from them.”

But Heppell’s momentum was stalled, with the gun midfielder sadly forced from the field due to suspension in 2016.

However, he wasn’t going to let the adversity it dictate his future.

“Having that year off gave me a real chance to get my body right, do some travel – I went to Europe for a few months – and just experience things I wouldn’t have if I would have been still playing,” Heppell said.

“I had a real focus on developing outside of footy and also my footy as well, so overall, I thought I handled the year really well and came back in a really positive space.”

Upon returning he was given the enormous honour and responsibility of captaining the club, taking over the duties from Watson and immediately thriving in the role.

“I’ve really enjoyed leading the team. Taking over the role from Jobe is not an easy task.

“I think the quality of the playing group and the respect that they’ve shown for me it’s made it a really enjoyable and easy team to lead, so I’ve really enjoyed that.

“Also, the development of the other leaders in the playing group as well has really helped my role.

“We are really developing as a side and I think culturally there’s been a massive shift in the last couple of years and we are creating our own bit of culture, which is really special.”

The 26-year-old is excited about what lies ahead for his group having now forged the strong, durable culture that could see the Bombers return to the top once more, and he wants to remain a key player in the club’s rise.

“The cultural piece I talk about – we’re trying to create something that can last the next 15/20 years or whatever it may be.

“To try to be an integral part of that along with the rest of the playing group here at the moment is something that we’re really driving towards.”

But to rise to the heights Heppell wants to reach, the side will need to be able to match it with the best, a challenge he is looking forward to on Friday.

“You love putting yourself up against the best teams and the best players in the comp,” he said.

“I’m hoping they’ve got a fully fit list and we can give them a good crack at their best.

“It’s really exciting in my 150th too, so I’m really looking forward to Friday night.”