Mark of a Swans superstar
Neil Cordy
The Daily Telegraph, September 5
IMAGINE an NFL player lining up in defence, offence and on special teams.
That is what Sydney Swans rising superstar Isaac Heeney has been doing for the later part of this season.
Like the NFL most players in the AFL have one job to do and one area of the ground to work in but not Heeney.
He has regularly played in three this year, midfield, up forward and in defence.
His unique talent to make an impact anywhere at any time makes him one of the few potential match winners in Saturday’s elimination final against cross-town rivals GWS Giants at the SCG.
The 22-year-old Novocastrian’s versatility has played a pivotal role in Sydney’s turn around in fortunes this year.
In the thrilling two-point win over Collingwood in round 20 Heeney was swung into the backline in the dying minutes and made a number of critical intercept possessions.
He did the same thing the following week in Sydney’s nailbiting nine-point win over Melbourne at the MCG. After kicking two goals early in the match he was switched to defence in the last 15 minutes and continued to repel the Demons forward thrusts. He even produced a candidate for mark of the year when he leapt over Jesse Hogan. Not since Leo Barry’s mark to win the 2005 grand final has a grab in defence been both spectacular and critical in a single moment.
While Heeney is clearly having fun playing so many varied roles it’s come with a catch his study time has tripled with every coaching department at the Swans wanting a piece of his time.
“It’s a strange one,” Heeney told The Daily Telegraph.
“I go past the offices of the line coaches and Horse and everyone says go do your homework. I walk past Steve Johnson (forwards coach), I walk past Dean Cox (run and midfield coach) and they say go do your homework. I go past Rhyce Shaw (backline coach) and he says the same, you’re a defender this week. I need to keep track of what I’m doing.”
‘Best I’ve played against’: Ward’s high praise for rival Buddy
Andrew Wu
SMH, September 5
Greater Western Sydney captain Callan Ward admits to being in awe of Lance Franklin's "freakish" talent, describing the superstar forward as the best player he has played against.
Gary Ablett, Patrick Dangerfield, Dustin Martin, Chris Judd and Nick Riewoldt are but a few of the greats Ward has taken on since his debut in 2008 but he rates them all below the superstar Swan.
"He's probably the best player I've ever played against in my career. Whether he's the best I've ever seen I'm not too sure," Ward, who grew up idolising Essendon great James Hird, told Fairfax Media.
"Watching him, sometimes you think how does this guy keep doing it? He's super important for them. I just love watching him play, to be honest."
Named All Australian captain for the first time last week and in the team for an eighth time, Franklin looms as the pivotal player in the second September Sydney derby on Saturday night in which the loser bows out of the premiership race.
Franklin missed the Swans' last home and away match due to injury but coach John Longmire expects his spearhead to be fit.
Despite barely training all season, Franklin has again been instrumental to the Swans qualifying for another finals series.
He almost single-handedly beat Collingwood and the Giants at a time when the Swans' position in the eight was in the balance.
"I know guys like him are managed, what that guy does on the weekend it'd be understandable because he'd be pretty sore come during the week. What he's done this year is amazing," Ward said.
Roos backs Swans’ September smarts
Neil Cordy
The Daily Telegraph, September 4
FORMER Sydney coach Paul Roos says the Swans’ proven performances in September will give them a slight edge in Saturday’s elimination final against GWS, but even he admits the contest is almost too close to call.
Sydney are playing in their ninth consecutive finals series and their 20th from the last 23 years. They have a proven formula for success which stands up to the cauldron of cutthroat matches and a stronger form line over the last month.
Roos, the Swans’ former premiership coach, has watched both teams closely over their journeys in recent seasons and says it’s hard to tip against Sydney’s experience and know-how.
“The Swans are confident because they’ve done it over and Over again,” Roos told The Daily Telegraph.
“The Giants don’t go in without confidence because they have contended the last two years and had some very good wins this year. It’s not that you don’t think they can win its more that people trust the Swans. We are all in for a cracking game. It’s a genuine 50-50, you know what both teams will do.”
Sam still in Swans’ equation
Neil Cordy
The Daily Telegraph, September 5
LANCE Franklin and Luke Parker are both on track to return from groin injuries for Saturday’s elimination final against GWS at the SCG.
But the real surprise comeback candidate is Sam Reid, who could still play a role in the finals should the Swans get past their cross-town rivals.
Reid has played just one match this season, the Round 3 win over the Giants at the SCG. He suffered a nasty quadriceps tear in the closing minutes of the match which required surgery.
He then made his return to football in July through the NEAFL but limped off with and Achilles tendon injury which also required surgery.
If he gets through training this week he will play in the NEAFL preliminary final on Saturday morning against Canberra at Blacktown.
Despite his chequered injury history which saw him miss the entire 2016 season with calf and hamstring injuries the Swans remain optimistic about his chances of making an impact this year.
“Sam is absolutely a chance of playing in the finals,” Swans football manager Tom Harley told The Daily Telegraph.
“His plan this week was to train Tuesday and Thursday and he’s done the first part of that. What he does on Thursday will be in readiness for him to play on Saturday. We will see how he recovers and work out a program for Thursday.
“The plan is to have him available and where that is will be played out but he is trending in the right direction. He’s cutting it fine but the plan is for him to play, that’s for sure.”
Star duo winning the race
Neil Cordy
The Daily Telegraph, September 5
STAR Sydney pair Lance Franklin and Luke Parker are on track for a return for Saturday’s elimination final at the SCG.
Both picked up groin injuries in the final minute of the round 22 win over GWS and missed the top four playoff against Hawthorn in round 23.
Both have only trained lightly since and will be expected to ramp up their workload on the training track this week.
“Lance and Luke will both do a little bit tomorrow and hopefully more on Thursday,” coach John Longmire said.
“If they get through all that they will be available to play. I’m not sure they would have been able to play on the weekend but the medical staff are reasonably confident they’ll be ready for this week.”
