Sydney coach John Longmire has revealed plans to make Isaac Heeney a more permanent fixture in the Sydney midfield.
The 25-year-old has played his best footy as a forward who can pinch-hit in the midfield, booting 36 goals this season. However, Heeney will now spend the 2022 pre-season with the midfield group in a bid to take the next step.
Midfielder
Disposals
Tackles
Clearances
Speaking toย AFL.com.au,ย Longmire said that Heeney's ability to hit the scoreboard was important and an attribute the Swans plan to take advantage of despite the change of position.
"Isaac at the back end of this year was able to play midfield and then push forward and still hit the scoreboard. That'll be an important part of his plan over the summer, to prepare to play that midfield-forward role even more," Longmire said
"We were hoping that as this year progressed we could get Isaac's training loads right to allow him to do that.ย Now we'll work on that balance over the pre-season because he can be really damaging, which he showed in the last four or five games this year.
"He's had some pretty serious injuries over the journey and not through his own doing, he's just had a bad run. He's a real pro the way he prepares.
"His great ability is he can play midfield, he can push forward and he can hit the scoreboard. He kicked 36 goals this year and we think he can still do that even with the evolution of him playing more midfield minutes as well."
The Swans recently opted not to match an offer from Carlton on restricted free agent George Hewett, meaning the 25-year-old has exited the Sydney engine room.
Add to that the looming exit of classy ball user Jordan Dawson, and there is some need for experienced stars like Heeney to step up and lead the way.
Heeney averaged just under 16 disposals per game in 2021, which will need a substantial lift should he want to be part of the Swans midfield full-time next year.
In 2017, 2018 and 2019, Heeney averaged just over 20 disposals per game but that achieved playing outside the midfield.
The former pick 18 hasn't ever played as a permanent midfielder so there's no reason to say he can't do it. He has all the attributes you would hope to have as a midfielder at the elite level maybe except for his ball-winning ability.
But that has never really been tested.
Heeney is also a restricted free agent at the end of next year.
