Swans up for tough challenge

AFL: Isaac Heeney’s blond locks may have once belied his warrior instincts, but not anymore.

On the ladder the Swans might not have much to show for their season of toil, but one significant breakthrough has been their human highlight reel finally getting the plaudits he deserves as one of the true hard men of the AFL.

Heeney has opened up about playing injured this year with a torn ankle and how being known as a tough footballer means more to him than the skill that has him in the mix to win the Mark of the Year for the second year running.

In ordinary circumstances, the 23-year-old would have been ruled out for slabs of this year with the ankle injury.

But as the Swans have battled through an injury crisis, Heeney has suited up for every match so far and will once again lead the new generation of bloods againstGWStoday at Giants Stadium.

“I feel like I’ve been beaten to a pulp a bit throughout the year, but we weren’t in a circumstance where I could have had a week or two off, unfortunately,” Heeney said.

“I had to play through that and I’ll be stronger for it.”

Heeney has known nothing but playing finals football since his debut in 2015, but when the Swans lost to Fremantle in round 18, the penny dropped that the Swans were no chance of taking part in September.

Heeney admits an attitude change took place that he had never previously experienced.

“It was just amatter of sticking tight and just learning as much as we could as a team and try and build a bit of synergy,” he said.