The Best Team Player on Crichton Medal night is named after Bruce Heymanson. 

Bruce was an Essendon Life Member, Number One Ticket Holder and member of the Hall of Fame.

The award recognises a player who puts others before himself, lives and breathes Club values and enhances the culture of the Club.

Leading Contenders

Nick Kommer

After bursting on to the scene in 2013, Kommer has missed the last two seasons because of injury.  He made a brief comeback in the VFL season midway through the year, before requiring further surgery.  Despite the setbacks, Kommer’s positivity and encouragement of his teammates shines through at every training session.

Matthew Lloyd says…

“He’s always supporting the players who are actually out on the field when he’s the one doing it hard on the sidelines.”

Paul Chapman

The three-time premiership player’s class continued to shine through, even after his retirement.  He still maintains a presence around the Club and will do so throughout the VFL side’s finals campaign.  Even after his final match against Richmond, he continued to train in the lead up to the Collingwood game. 

Jason Winderlich

Like Kommer, Winderlich has fought a seemingly endless battle against injury.  He played one senior match in 2015, against Hawthorn in round 13.  The game turned out to be the final match of his career.   Winderlich has been likened to a coach for the insights he has provided to his teammates. 

Dyson Heppell

Heppell was appointed stand-in Captain when Jobe Watson was ruled out for the remainder of the season with injury.  Despite heavy losses, the resignation of his Coach and the further loss of key players through injury, Heppell continued to lead the side with passion and professionalism.

Matthew Lloyd says…

“The person that identifies what this award is about is Dyson Heppell.  Whether it is assisting the media department, sponsorship and players on the field when Jobe went down with injury, Heppell’s the one that stepped up to be the Captain.  He drives training harder than anyone else.  So I think he embodies ‘team’ better than anyone."