Isaac Heeney has revealed he was carrying a stress fracture in his ankle throughout Sydney’s AFL finals campaign, and it flared up on Saturday at the worst possible moment.
Compounding the failed punt taken by coach John Longmire on Logan McDonald’s injured ankle, the Swans had to deal with the prospect of one of their prime movers being hobbled as they were blown away by the Brisbane Lions in their 60-point grand final hammering.
Isaac Heeney on the interchange bench.Credit: Getty Images
The injury occurred before Sydney’s qualifying final win over the Giants, Heeney said, and while it clearly didn’t limit his output then, or in their preliminary final victory over Port Adelaide, it does explain why the 28-year-old was so far below his best at the MCG.
Heeney had only 14 disposals and kicked one goal but was spotted in long discussions with staff on Sydney’s bench during the match and was brought off in the last quarter, holding his head in his hands after being told his afternoon was over.
“I’ve had a stress fracture in my ankle for the whole final series, so I’ve had to manage that,” Heeney said.
“After the Port game, I was pretty sore, so I had to get through the week. I felt good going into the game, and then I hurt it when I got run down and tackled, I think it was late in the first [quarter]. Obviously couldn’t get through, and in the end it was too far of a deficit. I wasn’t moving well, and they [the coaches and medical staff] just said, ‘You’re done.’
“That’s frustrating in itself because we had Loges go out too, and a few of the boys were pretty sore.”