The senior football game, beginning from 3.20pm at Lockington Recreation Reserve, is just one part of the day’s offerings, which is set to start from 11.30am with a junior clinic for all kids and abilities, led by Heppell and other Cats players.
During the game, organisations such as the Lockington Bush Nursing Centre will be present and conducting health checks, while band Simonkly Rogue is set to play live music on and off from 3pm until 10pm.
Following the senior fixture, where Heppell will ironically play against the Bombers, he will conduct a sportsman’s night, answering a host of pre-populated questions from an emcee before hanging around the club afterwards to mingle with those in attendance.
It’s the second straight year the club has attracted a former AFL star for the event.
“It's that injection of excitement, it's the kids who have grown up watching Dyson and, now potentially, going to be able to play with him as a 22-year-old instead of an 18-year-old or 10-year-old watching him on TV,” Lockington senior football coach Jayden Howe said.
“He's a pretty chill bloke, he sent us all a message to say he can't wait to play and put it in the players group, like, ‘I'm excited to be there, and it's going to be a great day, and we can have a beer afterwards and a chat’, like this isn't transactional, this is a relationship and I think that's the one thing that I've loved.”
Last year Lockington had Western Bulldogs premiership player Tom Boyd speak at the event, and Boyd recommended Heppell to the club for this year, helping it get in contact with the former Essendon captain.
At the sportsman’s night, Heppell is expected to discuss not only his time in the AFL, but also men’s mental health, particularly challenges he has been public about during his professional career, such as his struggles with disordered eating.
This weekend was the last one where Lockington was able to secure Heppell, who has already played for four different clubs this season, one of them being his home town club Leongatha, which he wants to play finals for should it qualify.
Touring different clubs has become essentially a habit for Heppell and Howe says the former Bomber enjoys giving back to the local footy scene, also describing it as “amazing” that Lockington was able to link his appearance to the men’s health day.
The event is relatively new at the club and its purpose is one that Howe believes cannot be understated in its importance.
“Brody Collins, who's a previous premiership coach and captain, him and Simon Stewart sat down over a beer one night and thought, ‘Well we have ladies day, and they raise money for breast cancer, maybe it would be really good if we could start to do something for the blokes’,” Howe said.
“Recent times in the AFL points to the fact; Bailey Smith, he’s been quoted quite heavily around, we need men’s mental health, we’ve got all of these other show games which are really important for diverse groups and minority groups, but men's mental health is still important.
“We're still losing nine men a day to suicide, there's plenty more stats out there that support why we should have a day like this, so I think it was fundamental in doing that.”
Many tickets have already been sold for the Mates for Men’s Health day on Saturday, but Lockington is still offering plenty more for interested attendees.
Tickets are $60 each, available to purchase online via the club’s website or at the gate on the day.
The ticket covers entry to the sportsman’s night, access to health checks and dinner, while those wanting to only attend the senior football game can still to do so at usual pricing.
