Suspended Swans star Isaac Heeney has released a heartfelt video message to fans following the AFL Appeals Board's decision to uphold his one-match ban for striking St Kilda's Jimmy Webster.
The ruling officially ends Heeney's Brownlow Medal hopes for the year.
The video, posted on the Swans' social media channels on Thursday night, sees a visibly disappointed Heeney express gratitude to the wider AFL community for their support during a challenging period.
It has since been publicly lambasted and mocked, most notably by cross-town rival GWS.
A message from Toby Greene ๐งก pic.twitter.com/x4TMrkbVTN
— GWS GIANTS (@GWSGIANTS) July 12, 2024
The suspension was confirmed after a marathon appeals board meeting, marking his second unsuccessful attempt to overturn the ban.
"Hey guys, obviously extremely disappointed with that result. Pretty shattering, to be honest," Heeney said.
"But I just wanted to jump on here and give a heartfelt thank you. Obviously, the show of support from the club here, from the top down, being Tom Harley (Swans CEO), Horse (coach John Longmire) and Leon (Cameron, General Manager) and our lawyer Duncan (Miller), thank you guys very much."
Heeney also expressed his appreciation to the fans, members, and the wider community, describing their support as "truly incredible."
He vowed to return stronger and make his supporters proud, his focus now shifting solely shifting to premiership success with the Brownlow Medal out of the equation.
"I wanted to also say that I can guarantee one thing ... when I'm back, I'll make sure I do this club proud, the supporters proud, my family proud," he said.
"It starts this weekend. Obviously, I won't be there on the footy field, but I'll be there to support the boys and the coaching staff and the staff at the club here. I want to flow on from that and make sure this year is a special one."
A message from Isaac Heeney โค๏ธ pic.twitter.com/oZ7N1E8TVI
— Sydney Swans (@sydneyswans) July 11, 2024
Like the verdict itself, the video has received mixed reactions from the public. Some appreciated Heeney's sincerity, others felt the response was overly dramatic.
The impact of such an innocuous act is not lost on the wider community, however, as discussions rage over the fairness element to the Brownlow Medal, given the significantly adjusted interpretation of what warrants a suspension in the AFL.
The Swans had argued that the initial tribunal decision was "so unreasonable that no tribunal acting reasonably could come to that decision" and contended that the classification of the offence as intentional was excessive.
However, the Appeals Board dismissed these arguments after over two hours of deliberation, upholding the original one-match ban.
AFL counsel Andrew Woods defended the tribunal's decision, stating, "he clearly was struck in the face, Mr. Heeney's intention doesn't really matter. It was a straightforward and unsurprising application of the guidelines."
Reflecting on the appeals process, some commentators suggested that the Swans' perceived arrogance, notably voiced by opposition star Sam Taylor earlier this season, may have negatively impacted their case. Journalist Scott Gullan noted that other clubs had observed a sense of "smugness" from the Swans heading into the tribunal, which may have backfired.
Whatever the case, Heeney will miss the Swans' upcoming clash against North Melbourne at the SCG on Sunday but will return the for a blockbuster clash with Brisbane in Round 19.
"I'll be back out there soon."
