With the 2022 pre-season well and truly underway for the Sydney Swans, and the side’s first pre-season fixture quickly approaching, Isaac Heeney says it is about making every session count from here on in.
The team has returned to the training fields after a well deserved Christmas and New Years break and the emphasis on football drills has ramped up to kick off the year.
Heeney says the side is focused on improving each session and making the most of the pre-season they have remaining.
“The off-season was great but the boys are back, flying around and just excited to get stuck in,” Heeney said.
“We have games coming up soon so the team is extremely pumped for that.
“At this time of year, its about getting continuity with the team, staying on the track, getting the km in the legs and just ticking off session by session.
“The pre-season flies, it’s a tough period but it goes really quick so we need to make the most of each session.”
With plenty of positives to take from last season, Heeney says the side is focused on continuing to develop their strengths and work on areas of improvement
Along with a personal goal, of spending more time in the midfield and to continue to develop to contribute towards the team.
“We are becoming a pretty good side so we are focused on knuckling down our strengths and working on our areas of improvement,” Heeney said.
“Ball movement is a key thing for us but also keeping our strength in our defence.
“From a personal point of view, a bit more midfield time to get in and amongst it but then also be able to slide in forward and try and have an impact on the scoreboard too. But wherever Horse wants to play me will be good.”
As training continues to intensify, Heeney can feel the hunger and excitement from the side for the season to start.
An elimination final loss is a driving force this pre-season, but the youth, excitement and exuberance brought in from the side’s draftees has impressed the playing group.
“There is plenty of hunger. We had plenty of success last year but couldn’t get to where we wanted to get. Being knocked out in the first final was disappointing because we thought we were a much better side than that so the hunger is there,” Heeney said.
“We have these new teammates coming in and they have shone straight away,” he added.
“Angus Sheldrick and Corey Warner have really produced that energy and work rate as well as being smart footy boys and they have settled in really nicely with Matty Roberts and Lachie Rankin.
“They bring that enthusiasm and excitement to the group and they are some fresh faces that bring different ways to look at things as well. They have come in, put their heads down and have been working extremely hard so I’m nothing but impressed with them so far.”
