Essendon midfielder Dyson Heppell has been announced the ABC Grandstand Player of the year after a standout 2014 season.

Heppell finished on 21 votes to take out the award ahead of Josh Kennedy, Nat Fyfe and Gary Ablett.

The 22-year-old said it was an honour to win the prestigious award.

“It is a great honour to receive this award, it is fantastic and a nice reward for a good year,” Heppell said on ABC Grandstand on Sunday.

“I feel I have had a very consistent year but to be recognised like this I certainly didn’t expect it.”

Already this season Heppell has received his first All Australian honour, finished fourth in the AFL players association MVP and been named captain of the 22under22 team.

Heppell averaged 28 disposals a game from his 21 matches in just his fourth season in the AFL.

The young midfielder said this season had been his most consistent since making his debut in 2011.

“I think it has been pretty consistent and I have certainly improved in a number of areas throughout this year,” he said.

“I am a lot more comfortable around stoppages and contested situations so I reckon I have had a really strong year.”

“My main goal was to be a key part of the midfield this year.”

“Over the first few years I was progressing as a half back flanker pitch hitting in the midfield but I really wanted to cement my spot throughout the pre-season.”

“I managed to do that and play a full year in the middle which was pleasing.”

The panel of experts including David Parkin, Stan Alves, Mark Maclure and Nathan Burke judge the award following each game.

Simon Goodwin, last week appointed as Paul Roos’ successor at Melbourne had a huge impact upon Heppell’s improvement throughout 2014.

“I worked a lot with Simon Goodwin as well as learning a lot off players like Jobe and Brendon Goddard,” he said.

“It has been fantastic having BJ at the club and he has been really good to learn from in terms of the way he goes about his training and preparation.”

“It is the little things like extra craft after training and things like that which have allowed me to improve.”

Heppell is among the favourites for Monday night’s Brownlow Medal count to be held at Crown Palladium.