The Sydney Swans are two days away from their Opening Round clash with Carlton at the SCG. On Tuesday, vice captain Isaac Heeney fronted the media to talk about the year ahead, the opening round match up with the Blues, coming up against old friends and his new role as vice captain.

On what needs to go right in 2026 after last year didn't go to plan

"I think early days we probably struggled a little bit with the continuity of the group and we had plenty of injuries which made it tough. It's an extremely close season, meaning there's no easy wins these days. The games that you're within a goal or two, you need to make sure you're on the right side of those games to put yourself in the eight. Hopefully this season we can do that and we can flow in with a pretty healthy list, which is amazing. We've had an amazing pre-season, but you never really know until you start playing games."

On Dean Cox's second year as senior coach

"It's funny, he's been under Horse for seven years, so he's still had a lot of characteristics from Horse which is being one of the most successful coaches to do it. You obviously need to hold those, but I think the way he's been able to come in and our game plan this year has changed a lot to last year, but the way I think last year he dealt with the individuals and the players on a really personal level was outstanding. I guess it makes the players more vulnerable and a closer-knit group."

On how the game plan has changed

"I won't give you too many ideas, you might hopefully see it on Thursday, but it's going to be a lot faster than we normally go and I think every team's going with a fast attack. We're still at a high importance on defence, as we like to pride ourselves on our defence as the Bloods, but expect a bit more of a fast transition."

On coming up against Will and Ollie on Thursday night

"It's a funny one, it's obviously tough seeing them go, being such amazing clubmen, incredible people around the club and obviously very good footballers too that played an important role. So it was tough seeing them go, but it's going to be on this Thursday and I can't wait. I look forward to moments where hopefully we can bump into each other and you can have a wrestle and sort of muck around in that aspect and for some reason it's always if you can put a bigger shot on your mate, you try and do it, but at the same time they're unbelievable fellas and look forward to seeing them. Hopefully they enjoy the experience coming back here."

On the new faces in the Carlton lineup

"You look at their last two pre-season games, they're playing some really good football. It looks like they're connecting. They've brought some key personnel in to fill specific roles, which is what they've needed over the last few years. I'm expecting a high pressure and a pretty quick game, so it'll be interesting to see what comes of Thursday night."

On Jagga Smith

"Jagga, he's been likened to Daicos and I think it's a great comparison. The way he moved in his last pre-season game was incredible.  I think there's not many at such a young age, he's a debut so he hasn't played a game, but how composed he is throughout the game with the ball in hand is something incredible. I don't think it'll take long before teams will start tagging him, that's for sure."

On the inclusion of Charlie Curnow

"I think for us he brings that real presence down forward.  It's sort of like a, I don't want to put any pressure on him, but a bit of a Buddy presence. He brings that. He's a real competitor. You look at the way he's gone up against Tom McCartin, Lewis Mellican in our pre-season training sessions, they go bull at a gate every time. It's making him better and he's really enjoyed the way we interact throughout the club, but also the way we move the ball and hopefully we can put it on his chest a little bit. I think the biggest thing for him is I just want him to play games. I want him to enjoy his time here and if we can allow him to have fun out there and we look after him, then goals will come. But the pressure isn't on him kicking goals. It's him to play 25 games this year and be a real central point down there for us."

On whether the fans will get around Charlie at the SCG

"Oh, the fans love him. You can already see it. I know the Carlton fans, they've showed their dislike for him, but our Swannies fans absolutely love him and hopefully he can turn it on at the SCG because it's one of the best places to play footy and when he's pumping, it's unbelievable. He gets me buzzing already. I need to not waste any energy on the excitement of Thursday night."

On his role this season

"I think it'll stay pretty consistent the last two years if I can take a bit of a leadership role in the middle there and then sneak forward and we've got some really good personnel that can cover my arse when I do go forward and allow me to hit the scoreboard. So I think it'll be pretty similar the last two years."

On vice-captaincy

"I didn't formally, I guess, want to go for it. It was sort of pushed upon from the playing group, which is something that you strive to do. You want the respect and the recognition from your playing group. That's all that matters. This outside noise doesn't mean a thing, ultimately. So to get that recognition is something I'm pretty proud of.  I wasn't pushing for it, but at the same time, I want to help Milsy out as much as possible to allow him to focus on himself and the team and just make sure he plays consistent 40 week in, week out. If I can sort of lower the stuff he needs to do, I'll do that. I've really enjoyed it. I think for me, it's kind of shown me you can lead in different ways. I'm not the most vocal bloke within meetings and around the club, but on the footy field, if I can lead by example, that's what I'm going to do. I think I've been able to put my best foot forward in terms of giving 110% on and off the footy field that the boys have recognised it. If I can help Milsy, I will. I'm looking forward to it."

On Errol Gulden

"Yeah, I wouldn't say a point to prove, but I definitely think he's ramped his game up to another level. He's been the most, I'd put him as the most professional bloke at the club. The way he dives into things off the footy field to get those one percenters, whether it be little things like breathing, visualisation, he really dives into that. But then on the footy field, he's one of the hardest working blokes you'll see.  And I think everyone knows that and you can see through his hard running and his skills. So he's stepped it up to another level, he's put some weight on so he can come inside and hopefully throw some bodies around. But he's looking sharp and hopefully he just stays fit."

On getting extra attention from the opposition

"Yeah, I guess you've got to wear it as a badge of honour.  Someone comes closely to you, you've got to look at it in a way that there's a reason for it, and then you've got to quickly shift your attention to team. I think as soon as you try and get out of that by yourself, it goes against you, and if you can go in and go, you know what, I'm going to arguably sacrifice your role to help someone else out and free up. It might be a 2v1, you can free someone else up, which will then ultimately work out in your favour by disrupting the opposition's game plan. That's probably the biggest way that Errol and I have looked into it over the past couple of years, is how can we help the team out first when we are getting sat on."