An incredible start to 2024 from Swans star Isaac Heeney has seen the utility join statistical rare air – and ignited discussion over how Sydney’s midfield will look when three of his star teammates come back from injury.
With captain Callum Mills, veteran Luke Parker and new recruit Taylor Adams all on the sidelines to start the season, Heeney has been called upon to help carry the load in a youthful Swans midfield.
However, his two consecutive dominant performances have now given Sydney coaches a dilemma they may not have anticipated when Adams and Parker return to the side sooner rather than later.
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The 27-year-old has accumulated far more of the ball on average than his 2023 season, having spent 77% and 70% time in the midfield across Opening Round and Round 1.
Now averaging 12 more disposals a game than last year, Heeney’s addition to the engine room has seen several other key stat lines skyrocket.
His whopping 22 score involvements and 17 clearances collectively against Melbourne and Collingwood have been a vital reason why Sydney have hit the scoreboard as well as they have.
Speaking to Fox Footy after their 33-point win over Collingwood last Friday, Heeney was encouraged by how well his team had adapted to the unexpected structural changes early on in the season.
“With the young fellows stepping up in the midfield, you got the boys up forward doing their job and the defenders too,” said a humble Heeney.
“We’ve got to ride this wave for as long as we can.”
Heeney’s efforts in Round 0 and 1 are just the seventh instance in Champion Data’s history of someone being the highest rated player across the competition in consecutive rounds, joining Dustin Martin, Dayne Zorko, Patrick Dangerfield and Adam Goodes on an exclusive list.
Martin is the only player to do so for three consecutive rounds (Round 20-22, 2020).
Heeney’s ability to win his own ball in contested spaces is looked upon favourably by Champion Data, alongside his disposal efficiency and capacity to hit the scorecard consistently.
Coach John Longmire echoed the praise made by Champion Data’s player rankings, labelling Heeney as ‘huge’ after their Opening Round win over Melbourne.
“His contest work in that first half was significant, and he played a great game,” Longmire said.
“We talked about him (going forward) at times tonight… but he was going so well (in the midfield), so thankfully we kept him there.”
Dual All-Australian Leigh Montagna was just as complimentary of the Swan in his outing against the Dees when speaking on Fox Footy, but also aware of the problems that may come from it.
“It’s going to make for some interesting conversations when Parker, Adams and Mills come back into the side. It’s going to be hard to kick Heeney out with the performance he put together against that Melbourne midfield,” said Montagna.
“The way he stood up – and he was doing it at both ends of the field – it was a phenomenal night.”
As well as Heeney has settled into his new midfield role, keeping him in there has the potential to jeopardise the output of his star teammates upon their return.
According to Champion Data, the best seasons of Mills (2022), Adams (2017) and Parker (2016) are all on the back of spending at least 70% of their playing time in the midfield.
Parker’s 2016 season – a year in which he made the interchange of the All-Australian side – was one where he spent 77% of time in the midfield, 21% up forward, 2% on a wing and no time in defence.
The numbers suggest that a role up forward is definitely viable for the 31-year-old, however he did his best work as a running midfielder.
Taylor Adams’ 2017 season, where he was runner up in Collingwood’s best and fairest, saw him play 76% midfield time, 15% up forward, 5% in defence and 4% on a wing.
While seemingly more flexible in his positioning than Parker, he also was unsurprisingly at his best when starting midfield. His move from the Magpies was also heavily influenced by them playing him at half-forward in 2023, a role he did not prefer.
Callum Mills’ inaugural All-Australian year in 2022 saw him play 70% of his time in the midfield, 18% on a wing, and 6% in the forward and back line respectively.
His role as a potential wingman has been earmarked before, although unsurprisingly like Parker and Adams, he is most effective in the middle.
John Longmire has been full of praise for Heeney and his capacity to play to a less familiar role, but also aware of his importance in other areas of the ground.
“We’ll play him where we need him. We’re two games in. If we need him forward, we’ll play him forward. But at the moment, he’s got really well in the midfield,” said Longmire.
“He’s been really important when we’ve has so much experience out of our team.”
How Sydney’s midfield will look once their star midfielders return to the fold remains to be seen, but Heeney’s incredible start to 2024 has provided Longmire and co with more than just food for thought.
The Swans come up against Essendon this Saturday night at the SCG – a side Heeney enjoys playing against, with GWS the only club he has kicked more goals against in his AFL career.
Source Agencies
