Swans star Isaac Heeney surprised himself with spectacular AFL mark: ‘I sort of leapt at it’
- Isaac Heeney has achieved one of the best performances ever
- He was grateful to the GWS defender who helped him avoid injuries
- The 28-year-old shone against GWS with 30 disposals
Isaac Heeney, the winner of the match in Sydney, admits he surprised himself with the athletic leap that enabled him to pull off one of the most spectacular performances in AFL history.
And he is grateful to GWS defender Jack Buckley for helping him avoid injury on the descent after his gravity-defying ride in the Swans’ thrilling qualifying final.
Heeney capped a stunning individual performance with what would have been a contender for the match of the year award – had it not been for a controversial competition rule – in front of a packed SCG.
Only goals and scores achieved during the home and away seasons are eligible for the annual awards, which now come with a $50,000 cash prize.
“I haven’t really had a competition all year, but it felt good,” Heeney said after Saturday’s thrilling match.
‘I came up there as a little hanger.
“I’m grateful to Buckley. He actually grabbed me and turned me around, otherwise I would have landed on my head.
“I’ll text him later to thank him.”
Isaac Heeney says he surprised himself with the athletic leap that enabled him to pull off one of the most spectacular performances in AFL history
Heeney flew high onto Buckley’s shoulders from the back of his 193cm opponent in the third quarter.
“I honestly didn’t expect to get there,” Heeney said.
‘I did it instinctively and got a good seat.’
The AFL announced the finalists for the 2024 Goal of the Year award just two days before Heeney’s decision, adding fuel to the fire surrounding eligibility rules.
There was heated debate on Thursday night when Geelong superstar Jeremy Cameron scored one of the most stunning goals of the season from the sideline during the Cats’ winning qualifying final against Port Adelaide.
Heeney was understandably most concerned about Sydney’s first finals win over GWS – after three previous defeats to their arch-rivals – which meant they had to play a home final.
The Swans are now in a position to reach the Grand Final for the first time since 2022 as they chase their first win in 12 years.
It would have been a contender for the award of the year, if not for a controversial competition rule
Heeney said: ‘I instinctively jumped at it and got a nice little sit’
They will play either Port Adelaide or Hawthorn with the winner progressing to the season decider on September 28.
“There’s some good sides (left) and it’s fun. I feel like we timed our run pretty well,” Heeney said.
“We stopped quite late in the season, but now it’s going well, and that’s good.”
Heeney was seen as a contender for the Brownlow Medal early in the season, but is out of contention for the game’s highest individual award after being suspended for a strike.
The 28-year-old shone against GWS with 30 possessions, seven saves and three vital goals as the Swans overturned a 27-point deficit to win by six points.
“I just pride myself on being the ultimate competitor,” Heeney said.
‘I’m going to put my head above it and be as hard as I can, as clean as I can, and kick as hard as I can.
‘Sometimes it works and it works, then I often support myself in it.
”Horse’ (coach John Longmire) has given me the freedom to really chase football, do what I do and have fun with it.’