SUSPENDED Bomber Dyson Heppell says he feels “let down” by Essendon after seeing a year of his career taken away from him by a WADA suspension.

In the first wideranging interview with a suspended current Essendon player, Heppell denied that he and the other players deserved blame for their role in the so-called supplements saga.

“I actually find that quite ridiculous,” Heppell told Fox Footy’s AFL 360.

“We had no reason not to fully disclose everything. We’ve been completely and totally honest from day one and we continue to be.”

But while Heppell told of his “utter disbelief and complete shock” in response to the ruling, he stated he holds no grudges towards the ruling body.

“I’ve got no issue with the system, it’s in place to create a fair & safe environment,” he said.

With former Bombers rookie Hal Hunter revealing his fears about what was put into his body under the regimen, Heppell stated he still felt confident in what the medical team at Essendon gave him.

media_camera Dyson Heppell leads Travis Colyer, Stewart Crameri, Heath Hocking, Jobe Watson and Cale Hooker in a 1km time trial during a training session. The suspended players cannot train with an AFL club during their year-long ban.

“I’m comfortable that I know what I was given,” he said.

“All I know is we were following a program that was ran by the footy club.

“We were told that everything was checked, approved and legal, and we were given written documentation supporting exactly that.”

However while Heppell says he doesn’t feel embarrassed or ashamed to be labelled a drug cheat — something he says he has been called in public since the decision came down in January — he is angry and feels disappointed.

But he made a point of not pointing the finger broadly.

“I just feel let down by the footy club and a number of people that were at the club at the time,” the 23-year-old said.

“I feel let down and probably (have) an overwhelming sense of injustice towards the club — a number of people who were at the club at the time.

“A footy club is made up of many people … it’s hard to pin the blame on one person.”

Heppell will almost certainly be on the sidelines for the entirety of the 2016 season and if he does attend any games this year — as he says he intends to — he’ll likely hear more calls of “drug cheat” from fans.

media_camera Dyson Heppell says he feels ‘let down’ by certain people at Essendon.

“I have been called a drug cheat,” the Bomber said on AFL 360.

“At the start it did worry me and it was hard to swallow. But I feel a lot of those people aren’t really educated on the situation.

“Now I don’t get fazed by it too much. I know what we did, I know who I am and I know my morals. And that goes against everything I believe in.”

Heppell revealed he has spoken to James Hird since the decision was handed down but hasn’t had much contact with his former coach as they “don’t work together anymore”.

“I’m keen to just move on with my life this year,” he said.

“You do go through a bit of a rollercoaster of emotion but I’m in a good place at the moment.

“Ultimately I’m not going to be defined by it.

“This year it will be tough but I’m going to continue to get the most out of the year, develop as a footballer and a person. The next 10 years of my career will define me.”

The writer is on Twitter @maxlaughton

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Originally published as Heppell ‘let down by the footy club’