Sydney match-winner Isaac Heeney admits he surprised himself with the athletic leap that allowed him to haul in one of the most spectacular marks in AFL history.
And he’s thankful to GWS defender Jack Buckley for helping him avoid injury on the way down from his gravity-defying ride in the Swans’ thrilling qualifying final win.
Heeney capped a stunning individual display with what would have been a mark of the year contender – if not for a contentious league rule – at a packed SCG.
Only marks and goals produced during the home-and-away season are eligible for the annual awards, which now come with a $50,000 cash prize.
‘I haven’t really taken one all year, but it felt alright,’ Heeney said after Saturday’s gripping contest.
‘I got up there, a little hanger.
‘I’m thankful for Buckley. He actually grabbed me and flipped me around, otherwise I would’ve ended up on my head.
‘I’ll send him a message later and say thank you.’
Isaac Heeney says he surprised himself with the athletic leap that allowed him to haul in one of the most spectacular marks in AFL history
Heeney soared high onto Buckley’s shoulders from behind his 193cm opponent during the third quarter.
‘I didn’t even expect to get up there, to be honest,’ Heeney said.
‘I sort of leapt at it out of instinct and got a nice little sit.’
The AFL announced the 2024 mark and goal of the year finalists just two days before Heeney’s grab, which added fuel to the fire around eligibility rules.
Fierce debate was sparked on Thursday night when Geelong superstar Jeremy Cameron snapped one of the best goals of the season from the boundary line during the Cats’ qualifying final win over Port Adelaide.
Heeney was understandably more concerned with Sydney’s first finals win over GWS – after three previous defeats to their arch-rivals – which set up a home preliminary final.
The Swans are now in the box seat to return to the grand final for the first time since 2022, as they chase their first flag in a dozen years.
It would have been a mark of the year contender – if not for a contentious league rule
Heeney said ‘I sort of leapt at it out of instinct and got a nice little sit’
They will host either Port Adelaide or Hawthorn, with the winner advancing to the season decider on September 28.
‘There’s some quality sides (left) and it’s fun. I feel like we’ve timed our run decent,’ Heeney said.
‘We left it pretty late in the season but we’re doing alright now, which is good.’
Heeney was considered a Brownlow Medal contender early in the season but is ineligible for the game’s highest individual honour after he was suspended for striking.
The 28-year-old starred against GWS with 30 disposals, seven clearances and three vital goals as the Swans erased a 27-point deficit to win by six.
‘I just pride myself on being just an ultimate competitor,’ Heeney said.
‘I’ll put my head over it and be as hard as I can, as clean as I can, and punt as hard as I can.
‘Sometimes it comes off and it works, and I’ll back myself in a lot.
”Horse’ (coach John Longmire) has given me the licence to really just hunt the footy and do what I do and have fun while doing it.’
