Young gun Isaac Heeney will be looking to capitalise on his encouraging first year at the Swans and put his hand up for more midfield minutes in season 2016.
 
Heeney played predominately forward in his 14 games last season – and with great effect – booting 16 goals and winning the Club’s Rising Star Award. However, it’s anticipated the Sydney Swans QBE Academy product will eventually make the transition to a midfielder.
 
That transition could come sooner rather than later if the 19-year-old has his way.
 
“Playing forward is definitely a strength of mine and that’s what the coaches are enforcing in me,” Heeney said.
 
“But if there’s an opportunity (to play) midfield I’ll jump at the chance.
 
“If guys like Luke Parker, Josh Kennedy and Kieren Jack need a rest forward then I could jump in.
 
“We’ve got a solid midfield group in there at the moment. If I’m not needed there, then I’ll do my job up forward.”
 
Heeney has been recovering from knee tendonitis that flared up in the Swans’ pre-season clash with Port Adelaide.
 
But he’s confident of putting his best foot forward for selection for next week’s season opener against Collingwood.
 
“It’s slowly getting there,” he said.
 
“I’m getting through a full game at the moment so hopefully everything can continue to improve.
 
“If I manage it right then I think I should be right to only a miss a few training sessions here and there, but not any games.”
 
Heeney won league-wide praise earlier this year after being judged the most promising draftee of the past two seasons, winning by 51 votes ahead of Melbourne’s Angus Brayshaw (16 votes) and Collingwood’s Jordan De Goey (seven votes).

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