Chris Heffernan
Essendon and Melbourne
AFL career
170 games56 goals
- Debut
- R19 1997 v GEE10 Aug 1997
- Most recent
- R22 2007 v WCE1 Sept 2007
Stats
2007 | ESS | 7 | 6.0 | 6.0 | 12.0 | 2.3 | 0.9 | 0.9 | 3.7 | 0.3 | 0.0 | 52 | 60 |
2006 | ESS | 19 | 8.1 | 7.7 | 15.8 | 3.5 | 1.2 | 1.2 | 3.8 | 0.3 | 0.2 | 65 | - |
2005 | MEL | 9 | 5.0 | 3.9 | 8.9 | 2.2 | 0.6 | 1.0 | 3.1 | 0.1 | 0.3 | 41 | - |
2004 | MEL | 18 | 9.2 | 6.6 | 15.8 | 2.4 | 1.2 | 1.1 | 3.9 | 0.1 | 0.2 | 63 | - |
2003 | MEL | 20 | 9.4 | 5.8 | 15.2 | 3.0 | 1.2 | 0.8 | 3.1 | 0.4 | 0.2 | 63 | - |
2002 | ESS | 23 | 8.5 | 4.4 | 12.9 | 2.5 | 0.8 | 1.0 | 2.8 | 0.5 | 0.2 | 54 | - |
2001 | ESS | 16 | 6.9 | 4.3 | 11.2 | 2.3 | 0.6 | 0.6 | 2.1 | 0.4 | 0.3 | 46 | - |
2000 | ESS | 21 | 9.2 | 5.5 | 14.7 | 2.6 | 1.0 | 1.5 | 3.2 | 0.2 | 0.3 | 57 | - |
1999 | ESS | 22 | 10.3 | 5.4 | 15.7 | 2.7 | 1.0 | 1.2 | 1.9 | 0.6 | 0.2 | 59 | - |
1998 | ESS | 12 | 5.9 | 4.4 | 10.3 | 1.0 | 0.8 | 1.1 | 2.6 | 0.3 | 0.0 | 39 | - |
1997 | ESS | 3 | 3.7 | 3.0 | 6.7 | 1.3 | 0.0 | 0.3 | 1.7 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 27 | - |
Bio
Drafted with the second overall pick in the 1996 National Draft, Chris Heffernan immediately justified his high selection by becoming a core component of Essendon's dominant midfield unit. A hard-running wingman who could also perform disciplined tagging roles, he was instrumental in the Bombers' historic 2000 premiership campaign, providing balance to a star-studded engine room with his two-way running and defensive accountability. However, his tenure at Windy Hill was interrupted in controversial fashion at the end of 2002, when severe salary cap pressures forced the club to trade him to Melbourne against his wishes, a move that symbolised the dismantling of the premiership side.
Heffernan spent three seasons with the Demons, where he provided experience and stability through the midfield, though he arguably played his finest football during his initial stint in red and black. In a satisfying coda to his career, he returned to Essendon for the 2006 season, allowing him to finish his playing days at his spiritual home. While his second stint was largely played in a mentorship capacity during a transition period for the club, he retired as a respected 170-game player best remembered for his role in the greatest single-season team in League history.
Profile
- Born
- 29 Jan 1979 (age 47y 265d)
- Height
- 187 cm
- Weight
- 81 kg
Teams
Honours
- Premiership2000
Bio
1 revisionDrafted with the second overall pick in the 1996 National Draft, Chris Heffernan immediately justified his high selection by becoming a core component of Essendon's dominant midfield unit. A hard-running wingman who could also perform disciplined tagging roles, he was instrumental in the Bombers' historic 2000 premiership campaign, providing balance to a star-studded engine room with his two-way running and defensive accountability. However, his tenure at Windy Hill was interrupted in controversial fashion at the end of 2002, when severe salary cap pressures forced the club to trade him to Melbourne against his wishes, a move that symbolised the dismantling of the premiership side.
Heffernan spent three seasons with the Demons, where he provided experience and stability through the midfield, though he arguably played his finest football during his initial stint in red and black. In a satisfying coda to his career, he returned to Essendon for the 2006 season, allowing him to finish his playing days at his spiritual home. While his second stint was largely played in a mentorship capacity during a transition period for the club, he retired as a respected 170-game player best remembered for his role in the greatest single-season team in League history.