Aaron Heppell believes he should have known better than to expect any favours from older brother Dyson when he stepped into Essendon three weeks ago. 

The younger Heppell, one of 13 players the club has signed on short-term contracts as top-up players for the NAB Challenge, was naturally keen to impress as soon as he arrived. 

He was quickly thrown into an intra-club game in one of his first sessions with the group, and Aaron and Dyson were running through the midfield. 

They played on each other for about 10 minutes – two slightly different shades of dreadlocked hair bounding along – but the older Heppell, already a star of the competition, didn't plan on taking it easy.  

"He pinged me for holding the ball right in front of goal. It was one of the first times I got near it and he bloody pinged me!" Aaron told AFL.com.au. 

"I thought he might have been able to give me a little tap on the side and let me pick it up. But he's a competitive fella and so am I, so after that things got a little bit heated." 

The Heppells have a few similarities in the way they play: both are good in close, have quick hands and can find the footy. But the brothers – with three years separating the pair – have taken opposing routes to this point, with Aaron to play his first AFL-level game for the Bombers against St Kilda on Saturday. 

When he heard a month ago that some of the club's VFL-listed players would be a chance to be upgraded to play with the Bombers in the pre-season competition, he set himself to be one of them. 

The familiarity of Morwell Recreation Reserve, where he played plenty of under-18 games with Gippsland Power, has him a little more comfortable if not for a few nerves. 

"I guess it's easier doing it back there than at Etihad Stadium…I might know a few people floating around in the crowd," he said. 

"I think mum's told most of her contact list. For Dyson's first game of AFL, mum managed to get about 60 people sitting around the Etihad crowd so knowing mum she will probably do something similar." 

Heppell was overlooked for the 2013 NAB AFL Draft after playing with Vic Country that year during the national championships, but didn't take it as the end of his hopes. 

He shifted to Melbourne, started living with Dyson and eldest brother Jamin near Windy Hill and was recruited to Essendon's VFL team. He took a long-term view to reaching the AFL. 

"I set myself a three- or four-year plan knowing that most boys who get picked up from the VFL do as 21-, 22- or 23-year-olds," Heppell said. 

"I'm still looking down the track in another year or two's time and I can have my name out there to go straight in and play AFL footy if a club is looking for a ready-to-go kind of player. That's my goal from here,  so when my time comes I can put my hand up." 

His nine games in the VFL last year taught Heppell he needed to build up his frame, continue to work on his kicking and improve his skills. Seeing Dyson, who last year won his club's best and fairest and was named an All Australian, prepare and recover from games has also been beneficial. 

"He's really helped me with the move and keeping me focused on what I'm here for with every aspect," Aaron said.

 "Dyson does everything to absolute perfection and to the elite level. It's pretty good to have him right there as a bit of a mentor and role model right at my fingertips." 

Heppell is studying exercise science at Victoria University, and hours after he was announced as one of Essendon's fill-in recruits on Wednesday, he was in class until late in the night. 

He mixes that with a job behind the bar at the Windy Hill Social Club, where he started last year. "I've told them I might not be as available in the next couple of weeks," the 20-year-old said. 

Heppell won't play with his older brother on Saturday, with Dyson recovering from minor knee surgery earlier this week. 

He wouldn't have played anyway, as one of Essendon's 2012-listed players sitting out the pre-season competition. 

Aaron recognises the contrast between his introduction to the top level and what Dyson has achieved early in his career, but is keen to make his impression last. 

"He had the dream run I suppose, coming in as an early draft pick, he played round one and he's barely missed a beat since then. It was very exciting for us and the community of Leongatha," he said. 

"I've come in in a different situation. I've made the most of what I've been thrown so hopefully it can work out."