The Sydney Swans have written a new line in the record books, with Friday night’s bumper win over Collingwood at the MCG coming in front of the biggest home-and-away crowd in club history.

A turnout of 78,922, many of whom were on hand to watch Collingwood unfurl the 2023 premiership flag, topped four other Swans home-and-away crowds of 70,000-plus. They were:

72,768 – Sydney v Hawthorn – MCG – R18, 2014
72,393 – Sydney v Collingwood – Stadium Australia – R21, 2003
72,130 – Hawthorn v Sydney – Waverley – R22, 1999
71,463 – Sydney v Collingwood – MCG – R8, 2023

It was the perfect stage for Isaac Heeney to continue his blistering start to the 2024 season in a new role through the midfield as the Swans spoiled the Magpie “party”.

In his 10^th season at 27, Heeney had 29 possessions (13 contested), four clearances, four tackles, 10 score involvements and two goals, to be widely judged best afield.

This was after what statistically was the best game of his career in Opening Round against Melbourne at the SCG, when he had  26 possessions (an equal career-best 18 contested), a career-best 13 clearances, a team-high seven tackles, 12 score involvements and one goal.

Heeney told Channel 7 post-match how he was ‘feeling really good’ after an uninterrupted pre-season and was  ‘really enjoying’ the chance to play more time in the midfield.

It was a move that was in part driven by the absence of midfielders Callum Mills, Luke Parker and newcomer Taylor Adams, but Heeney said he was open to the prospect of continuing in this role even when they return.

James Rowbottom also had the record-keepers on duty on Friday night, posting an equal career-best 13 tackles.

Matt Roberts, the Round 1 Rising Star nominee, also continued his eye-catching start with 15 possessions and his first win at the MCG, and Chad Warner kicked an equal career-best three goals.