Dyson Heppell farewell snub: Essendon slammed for 'slap in the face'

Essendon has been accused of slapping retiring AFL champion Dyson Heppell in the face after it was revealed on Wednesday that his farewell game will be against Brisbane, not Sydney as initially planned.

Essendon fans have savaged the club for their decision, with many taking to social media to express their anger and disappointment.

Heppell, 31, announced his retirement last week after 17 seasons and 252 games with the Bombers. He was widely expected to play his final game against Sydney at the SCG on Friday night, but Essendon instead opted to give him a farewell in their final match of the season against Brisbane at Marvel Stadium on Saturday week.

The decision has been met with widespread criticism, with many fans accusing the club of disrespecting Heppell and his legacy.

"This is a slap in the face to Dyson Heppell," one fan wrote on Twitter. "He deserves to play his last game at the SCG, not in front of a half-empty stadium in Melbourne."

"Essendon have shown a complete lack of class with this decision," another fan wrote. "They should be ashamed of themselves."

Heppell himself has said he is "disappointed" by the decision, but he will still be giving his all for the Bombers in their remaining two games.

"I'm not going to lie, I'm a little bit disappointed that I won't be playing my last game at the SCG," Heppell said.

"But I understand the club's decision, and I'm still going to be giving my all for the Bombers in our remaining two games."

Essendon coach Ben Rutten has defended the club's decision, saying it was made in the best interests of the team.

"We made the decision to give Dyson a farewell in our final game of the season against Brisbane because we believe it will be the best opportunity for him to receive a fitting send-off," Rutten said.

"We understand that some fans may be disappointed with the decision, but we believe it is the right one for the club and for Dyson."