Dyson Heppell concedes he took a little longer to recover following games early in the season, but says he’s finding his groove as the side reaches a defining period in their year.

The Essendon Captain has played every game so far after missing the 2016 season.

Heppell is ranked in the top five at the Club for disposals, tackles, inside 50s, clearances, contested possessions and uncontested possessions.

As impressive as those numbers are, Heppell told Bomber Radio he thinks his best is yet to come.

“Early on in the season I got quite fatigued in the early rounds just getting used to the knocks, the hits and trying to recover really quickly,” he said.

“Now I’m getting in the swing of things … hopefully I’ll continue to build throughout the rest of the season.

“I’m starting to get used to the rigours of backing up week in, week out and at the mid-point of the year the body is holding up really well.

“I’m looking forward to playing some of my best footy in this back half of the year.”

The Bombers are in eighth spot on the ladder on the back of three wins from their last five matches.

“In the last four or five weeks we’ve played teams above us on the ladder but we’ve strung together our best periods of footy,” he said.

“It has been a really nice build and we’re getting that continuity of playing together and building that chemistry.

“I really feel we’ve got a lot of upside still to bring.”

Heppell said the mid-season bye provided as much a ‘mental’ freshen up as a physical benefit ahead of a clash with a resurgent Sydney side that has won five of its last six games to sit just one win behind the Bombers.

“Obviously they had a rough start to the season but you can never write them off,” he said.

“We’re really excited for this challenge and looking to bring our best contested game. 

“Everyone talks about the Swans being a hard, contested footy team and it’s something we’re really improving on and building as well.”