Heeney: Our young guns have X factor

Said one observer: “It’s all done on a much deeper level these days than just going out for a drink. Players are opening up and connecting and understanding one another in more meaningful ways.”

But parts of these behindclosed-doors meetings at Melbourne, and other clubs, also remain fiercely guarded.

The move to cancel Melbourne’s pre-season camp, in part due to some player safety concerns, again tested this revolve.

The headlines screamed of SYDNEY AFL star Isaac Heeney believes the Swans have some serious emerging talent in their ranks and has given the youngest of them all a massive compliment.

Still only 22, Heeney has already logged 79 senior games going into Saturday’s elimination final against local rivals GWS. As Sydney roll disharmony and mutiny.

But co-captain Jack Viney was adamant the experience had the opposite effect, and had brought the club even tighter together on the eve of its 14-win season.

“We have just continued to try to build meaningful relationships,” Viney said.

“We have done a lot of work around it and it’s been a pretty crucial part of our schedule, allocating time to be able to create those bonds and relationships that are a little bit deeper than normal.” into their ninth consecutive finals campaign, it’s clear their crop of youngsters will have big roles to play.

Heeney apart, the group includes Tom Papley and George Hewett (both 22), Oliver Florent and Ben Ronke (both 20), Will Hayward (19) and Tom McCartin (18), who was the youngest player taken in last year’s draft and has already logged 14 games.

That’s not including injured 21-year-old 2016 Rising Star winner Callum Mills. “There’s some serious talent there,” Heeney said. “You look at the likes of Ollie Florent and Will Hayward, with a lot of X-factor and athleticism that is next level.