Sydney Swans star Isaac Heeney determined to feature in bushfire fundraiser after close call during off-season
Isaac Heeney is determined to be involved in the AFL’s bushfire fundraising match after experiencing a close call while holidaying on the NSW South Coast with teammate Luke Parker.
Sydney
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Isaac Heeney is confident a sore quad won’t scupper his hopes of earning a spot in John Longmire’s All Stars side with the Swans star desperate to play his part in easing a bushfire crisis he has come uncomfortably close to.
The 23-year-old and his partner Lauren spent a few days either side of New Year with Luke Parker and his partner Kate at the latter’s holiday home in Manyana, a small beach town around 200km south of Sydney on the NSW South Coast.
As the fires in the area crept closer, eventually devouring nearby Lake Conjola, the Swans contingent were able to evacuate safely but the experience has left its mark on Heeney and he’s determined to do whatever he can to help.
“There was one road in and one road (of Manyana) and they were letting 20 cars out at a time with a police escort,” he said.
“When we finally got out, the road to get out to the Princes Highway, you just look and either side was completely burned and the amount of trees the fire brigade had to cut up and get off the road was pretty full on.”
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But while they waited for their chance to leave, the Swans’ party used their time to good effect to help others.
“There was food in the (holiday home) cupboard and we were able to donate some of it to the local hall, make sure other people could eat as we’d heard some people maybe didn’t have enough,” Heeney said.
“It was a matter of giving what we could to people who needed it.”
Heeney, Parker and their teammates immediately set up a gofundmepage to raise funds for those affected and it is closing in on its $15,000 target.
But the big AFL fundraising initiative is the State of Origin clash which sees Victoria face an All Stars side on February 28.
Maitland-born Heeney is desperate to get the nod to play for the All Stars side.
“It’s a massive thing for the AFL to help out where we can. I’d love to play and raise as much awareness as possible and funds,” he said.
“It’s been devastating and I really feel for these people.
“I’m sure he (Longmire) will put up whoever he thinks and I know he’s pretty pumped to be coaching (the All Stars) but if my body’s right to go, I’d love to be there.”
Quad tightness has restricted Heeney to doing laps on the track since returning from the Christmas break but it isn’t expected to keep him out of the main group for long.
The player’s toughness is not in question, battling as he did through most of last season with an ankle problem.
In the final pre-season game of 2019, an opponent landed on his ankle in the opening 20 seconds but Heeney battled on to play 22 games for the red and whites.
“I got a tear in the deltoid there but pushed through it,” he said.
“But I’ve come back, had a really good block just before Christmas, there’s a bit of quad tightness, (restricting him to laps on the track), but other than that I’m feeling pretty good.”
Originally published as Sydney Swans star Isaac Heeney determined to feature in bushfire fundraiser after close call during off-season