AF 2015 Profile: Isaac Heeney

[Mr.Craig]

Isaac Heeney



5/5/96 186cm/82kg Midfielder

Fanplanner Price - $143,500

2014 TAC Averages - 16.7 kicks, 10 handballs, 4.7 marks, 8.2 tackles

2014 NEAFL Averages - 10.8 kicks, 7.3 handballs, 3.3 marks, 4 tackles

2014 TAC AF Ave: 121.7
2014 NEAFL AF Ave: 77.1

2014 TAC Scores - 151, 143, 110, 83

2014 NEAFL Scores - 79, 66, 98, 103, 66, 51


Profile

Sydney have been guiding Heeney's junior career since he was just 12 years of age, they obviously saw something special in him and they were right. In 2014 he blitzed the opposition in his TAC games for the Rams, won the Harrison Medal as the best Div 2 player at the Champs, earned All Australian selection and had senior NEAFL exposure with the Swans. All this led to Melbourne bidding for Heeney with their No.2 draft pick which gives an indication of how highly he is rated. Understandably Sydney exercised their right to take him and now he faces the challenge of competing for a spot in their dominant midfield. One of the highlights of Heeney's game (and a positive for fantasy) is his tackling with a season high of 16 vs Murray Bushrangers. All signs point to him being a quality AFL player in the future.

Callum Twomey - Can he get the ball? Yep, he averaged 27 disposals in the TAC Cup with the Rams. Does he win it? Yep, nearly 60 per cent of those were contested. Can he mark it? He's tough and strong in the air and has an impressive leap. What's his attitude like? As one recruiter put it, "he's a ripper", a player who likes the rough and tumble of a midfield role. When he doesn't have the ball he's doing everything to get it, averaging eight tackles across four TAC Cup games. It's a competitive instinct hard to find. Will he handle the step up? Well, he already has. In six games for the Swans' reserves side, Heeney averaged 18 disposals against senior company. Heeney is elite around the contest - smart, physical, aggressive but astute - and he combines that with great running, spread and effectiveness. It's a good package.

Emma Quayle - To me, Isaac Heeney is the most outstanding prospect, the best kid in it. He's the hardest to find any flaws in. Playing for NSW meant he didn't get to play against division one opposition this year, but he looked completely comfortable playing for Sydney's reserves side. A Swans Academy graduate, he'll start training on Monday and be called at pick 18 in the draft. He's one of the biggest bargains I can think of, but at the same time he grew up near Newcastle, played soccer until he was 12, and would probably not be the player he is without what the academy has exposed him to.

Knightmare - Heeney this year is probably the big improver from this draft class and has gone from someone who coming into the season projected as more a second round pick to someone who you could make a case for as being the best midfielder and most complete in the draft class. He has been noted as a hard worker so I expect him to get the most out of his ability and with his rapid footballing growth over the years I expect Heeney the way he is tracking and improve rapidly to become one of if not the best and most complete midfielder in this draft class. He is also considered from what I understand to be an exceptional leader and I expect him to become a part of the leadership group for Sydney down the track. Heeney has the ability to become a similar quality talent to David Swallow as an on-baller with a complete game but with an even better tackling game.

Mad Monday - Heeney's best quality, the one that stands out no matter what he level he plays at, is his ferocity at the contest and hunger when chasing the ball. Isaac Heeney attacks the ball - head down bum up - at every stoppage and whenever there is a loose ball to be won. He harasses, chases, bumps and tackles any opponent with the football and more often than not ends up with football in hand. He has a great ability to get his arms clear and has fantastic strength for a player his size in that it's very difficult to bring him to ground in a tackle. From a more tangible point, Heeney has clean hands and is capable of picking the ball up off the ground with one scoop.


Pros - Already familiar with Sydney, tackling

Cons - JS, vests


Fantasy Prospects - The main issue is obviously getting in the team and I think there's also a reasonable prospect of Heeney being sub a few times early on in his career. He didn't quite have the same impact at NEAFL level but the experience would have done him good. If can get full games and continue to pad his scores out with good tackle numbers then he should be a great cow, but the chances are subs will drag his average done a fair bit. On the plus side, he is priced lower than he rightfully should be.


Prediction - 56-60


Media

http://www.afl.com.au/news/2014-11-09/18-days-to-the-draft-meet-isaac-heeney
http://www.afl.com.au/news/2014-10-03/a-nobody-every-team-wants
http://madmondayshow.com/2014/08/23/isaac-heeney-player-profile/
http://www.theherald.com.au/story/2701593/why-newcastles-isaac-heeney-is-the-best-player-in-afl-draft/
http://www.heraldsun.com.au/sport/afl/afl-draft-prospect-isaac-heeney-reaping-the-rewards-of-training-in-the-sydney-swans-academy/story-fni5fan7-1226974193467

Video

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cam0sHz6bQs
http://www.afl.com.au/video/2014-10-06/isaac-heeney-highlights
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YYlAeKmpBuM
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=trUiSVxz8MI
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J2U9lDJpP-E
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f5doK-vfv0M

[Jroo]

If only he went to another club. He's better than Petracca and the other first round draftees.

Still, Jake Lloyd and Cunningham showed it's possible to break into their side, this year.

If he's playing in round one, it's likely I'll pick him.

[Mr.Craig]

Next year he'll have Mills to compete with which is scary.

[Ricochet]

Next year he'll have Mills to compete with which is scary.

And he's spose to be just as good, if not better than Heeney!

[Toga]

He's an interesting one, rated so highly among recruiters he's obviously very talented. But will he break into the Swans 22, that's the question!

He should be a bit cheaper than some of the other potential rookies like Petracca and Brayshaw, but his NEAFL stats are interesting... It kind of says to me that he can dominate against kids his age, but might struggle against the older blokes in the senior leagues.

No doubt he'll be a great player, but whether he gets a run at it next year is questionable.

[Mr.Craig]

Next year he'll have Mills to compete with which is scary.

And he's spose to be just as good, if not better than Heeney!

Statistically he's already better. His scores in the TAC this year were 131, 89, 133, 143, 128 and 170.

[Ricochet]

Next year he'll have Mills to compete with which is scary.

And he's spose to be just as good, if not better than Heeney!

Statistically he's already better. His scores in the TAC this year were 131, 89, 133, 143, 128 and 170.

Ridiculous hey

[Nige]

Breaking into the Sydney side is definitely the issue to begin with, but I reckon he should be able to do it. So talented, will pick him.

[The_Captain]

Geeez... Sounds like Sydney getting a couple more steals there... Afl dont mind a successful Sydney,

[Toga]

They're meant to be getting both Mills AND Dunkley next year aren't they? I know Mills is meant to be one of the best few players in next year's draft crop, but Dunkley is meant to be pretty highly rated as well I think.

[The_Captain]

They're meant to be getting both Mills AND Dunkley next year aren't they? I know Mills is meant to be one of the best few players in next year's draft crop, but Dunkley is meant to be pretty highly rated as well I think.

There backup 22 is going to be better than some starting 22's soon...

[SydneyRox]

Will struggle to get full game time in 2015 I would think. Massive vest candidate. The Swans wont play him unless he is ready, and there is a very long list of players in front right now.
Great long term pickup for the Swans, but not especially fantasy relevant this year.

[Toga]

No doubt that he will be a great player in the future Syd, but do you think there's a chance he's going to take a few seasons to really match it with AFL bodies as his NEAFL stats suggest?

[SydneyRox]

No doubt that he will be a great player in the future Syd, but do you think there's a chance he's going to take a few seasons to really match it with AFL bodies as his NEAFL stats suggest?

Size wise @ 186 and 82kg, he is there abouts, but i doubt he will be able to play the mainly inside role that he has been doing in the TAC. His role will most likely start as an outside mid competing against Bjack, Cunners, lloyd etc for game/vest time.

Ideally, if he could do what Hanners did in his first full year that would be awesome, but Hanners didnt have as much competition for spots, had 2 preseaons under his belt and he was playing as an 19year old.

[Toga]

Yeah didn't think his size would be big enough to play his favoured inside role, that will probably be a few seasons away! Hopefully we get to see what he can do sooner rather than later though ;)