The Sydney Swans have headed to Isaac Heeney's homeland, Newcastle and the Hunter Central Coast to take part in various school, club and community activities from Monday to Wednesday as part of the AFL's Community Camp program.

Heeney spoke to the media at open training on Wednesday morning about returning to Newcastle, the team's new draftees and the pre-season so far.

On being back in Newcastle

"The boys are loving it at the moment and it's just good to see so many kids and people that love AFL and I guess the growth over the last, I mean this is my 12th year now, I feel old, but the growth over the last five years has been incredible and yeah, can't wait to keep pushing it."

On the highlight of the trip

"We trained in Sydney on Monday and then came straight up here to a little kids clinic, and that was awesome. The boys are loving it, there's so many kids running around, I think there are nearly 200 little kids having an absolute ball. So that was a real highlight and then being able to go into the schools, normally we go to the schools down here and no one knows what AFL is, so to get back and have so many kids loving it and asking actual questions is pretty awesome."

On the possibility of playing a pre-season game in Newcastle

"It's in great nick (the oval). I was just saying that before, I haven't been back since it's been done and to train on it and I mean, the boys are loving it. We'd love to come and hopefully play a pre-season game here at some point and it's in amazing nick, so we could definitely do that."

On draftee Max King

"I think the nicest thing with him and all the boys, to be honest, that have come in, they're sort of, they're biting their tongue a little bit in terms of their being an absolute sponge and just listening and absorbing everything they can from all the older boys and they're working their butts off as well. So it's a tough time of the year, you don't do much other than eat, sleep and train, but the boys are coming in with a smile on their face and buying into it and we've got a healthy list and the young fellas have been absolutely amazing with their energy as well.  So, Max, he's a great athlete and he's learning the game really well."

On the advice Isaac has given Max

"The biggest one, you want to earn respect, is that respect versus like sort of piece and if you can earn respect through your actions and then wanting to learn as much as you can, the boys can't ask for anything more and we absolutely love players like that and that's really all I've said to him and I haven't really had to say it to him because that's what he's been doing, but he's having an absolute crack and that's all I love, just people that rip you in and put the club first."

On spending time with family while he's in Newcastle

"I snuck home last night and saw my parents, my brother, wife and our little nephew, so that's awesome, I'll see them again this afternoon and spend the night there, which will be beautiful. I've got an amazing support network and my family are absolutely incredible and whenever they can they'll sneak down and say g'day and it's a quick hug for two minutes and a quick chat and then they take off again so it's absolutely incredible and like I said it makes me feel extremely welcomed and loved."

On the talent pathway in NSW and Newcastle

"I think the Swans Academy has been absolutely incredible for a lot of people and I know I was one of the first ones to do it and extremely fortunate to be able to be in that program 12 years ago, 12, 13 years ago, I mean I started when I was 12 which was 17 years ago, so for Max to be able to come through and you train with elite players,  back in the day Newcastle probably didn't have as many elite players purely because there wasn't as much football, so now with the growth here, the amount of elite players, elite coaching staff, especially coming out of the academy, it really helps you drive a high standard and get picked up and I know Max is only one since me, but there's been a lot of players that have gone close and that's a fair effort in itself."

On what he would say to local kids aspiring to follow in his footsteps

"I think the biggest thing, you've got to love it, you've got to love what you do and it is hard work, it's not easy but I think the pros definitely outweigh the cons and if you have that sort of hard work beats talent mentality you'll go a long way in all walks of life and that's kind of what we push on to the young fellas but I guess all these kids that are smiling here, getting guernseys signed and having a kick of the footy is something that I'll push towards those kids."

On Simon Goodwin

"Pretty incredible, I think Coxsy was probably one or two coaches down over last year, and there was a massive load on him so now for this pre-season leading into next season with two extra coaches in Laids (Jeremy Laidler) coming from Giants as well and then Goody, the knowledge and the way that they communicate is second to none, it's pretty impressive. When they do speak it inspires you which is something that you want as a coach and like you said a premiership winning coach is something that you don't see much of so to have him under Coxsy and his knowledge especially in attack is second to none so it's exciting and he's an amazing fella too."