Isaac Heeney witnessed Taylor Garner pub altercation
New details of emerged of the altercation at a Sydney hotel that resulted in North Melbourne forward Taylor Garner being stood down from selection, as Sydney reveals Isaac Heeney's role in the drama.
Jon Ralph
less than 2 min read
June 26, 2019 - 11:37PM
Isaac Heeney was left to console a fan outside a Sydney pub who was allegedly punched by North Melbourne forward Taylor Garner.
The Herald Sun understands the fan had moments earlier walked up to Heeney to compliment the Sydney star.
The Swans yesterday confirmed Heeney and teammate Ryan Clarke had been at the Golden Sheaf pub in Double Bay where Garner had been drinking before the Roo allegedly broke a patron’s nose in a scuffle last Saturday night.
Garner had been staying with former Roo Clarke during North Melbourne’s mid-season bye.Heeney had only met Garner on the night.
It is understood the patron, who has since reported the incident to police, approached Heeney to tell him he loved his style of play.
Garner is then understood to have told the man: “F— off, idiot.”
Heeney walked away from the conversation but, after an exchange of words, Garner allegedly punched the man, breaking his nose.
Heeney broke up the scuffle and consoled the man, and reported the incident to the Swans.
Garner has been stood down from AFL duties pending a police and AFL investigation, but he can play in the VFL this weekend.
Sydney football boss Charlie Gardiner said last night the Swans had confirmed Heeney helped the man.
Updates
Star Sydney forward Isaac Heeney helped break up a pub scuffle involving North Melbourne forward Taylor Garner.
The Swans have confirmed Heeney was at the Golden Sheaf Hotel in Double Bay last weekend when the altercation occurred involving Garner that allegedly left a man with a broken nose.
The Kangaroos have stood Garner down from senior selection his weekend as police investigate the incident.
Garner was staying with former teammate Ryan Clarke in Sydney during North Melbourne's bye, but Clarke had left the venue before tempers flared.
"Both Isaac and Ryan kept the club fully informed about what occurred over the weekend," Swans football manager Charlie Gardiner said.
"Isaac should be commended for defusing the situation and offering support to the other party.
"As this matter is still being investigated, we are unable to make further comment."
Al Paton
That's a wrap for a huge day of footy news – scroll down to recap all the headlines and stay tuned for all the Round 15 teams and live updates from tonight's Bombers v Giants clash at Marvel Stadium. And we'll be back at 7am tomorrow with all the fallout in another edition of AFL Daily – see you then!
Glenn McFarlane reports …
St Kilda's injury curse has struck again with Dean Kent set to miss the rest of the season after injuring his quad at training. Kent, 25, went to ground after kicking a ball during the training session and is now certain to undergo surgery that will end his first season with the Saints. The former Demon had played 13 games this season for his new club, but faces three months on the sidelines after suffering a torn quad. “Scans show Dean has acquired a tear to the top of his left quadriceps muscle,” St Kilda general manager of football Football Simon Lethlean said. “Unfortunately with injuries of this nature, you’re looking at a 10-12 week recovery period, so this will end Dean’s season. “It’s really disappointing for Dean and the club, but we just have to ensure he has the best treatment and we support him and his young family as well as we can.” Kent will meet with surgeons in the coming day as he and the club map out a recovery program to have him right to go for the start of the pre-season.
Swans star witnessed pub scuffle
Al Paton
Star Sydney forward Isaac Heeney helped break up a pub scuffle involving North Melbourne forward Taylor Garner.
The Swans have confirmed Heeney was at the Golden Sheaf Hotel in Double Bay last weekend when the altercation occurred involving Garner that allegedly left a man with a broken nose.
The Kangaroos have stood Garner down from senior selection his weekend as police investigate the incident.
Garner was staying with former teammate Ryan Clarke in Sydney during North Melbourne's bye, but Clarke had left the venue before tempers flared.
"Both Isaac and Ryan kept the club fully informed about what occurred over the weekend," Swans football manager Charlie Gardiner said.
"Isaac should be commended for defusing the situation and offering support to the other party.
"As this matter is still being investigated, we are unable to make further comment."
Injury news: Another Saint hurt
Al Paton
Glenn McFarlane reports …
St Kilda's injury curse has struck again with Dean Kent set to miss the rest of the season after injuring his quad at training. Kent, 25, went to ground after kicking a ball during the training session and is now certain to undergo surgery that will end his first season with the Saints. The former Demon had played 13 games this season for his new club, but faces three months on the sidelines after suffering a torn quad. “Scans show Dean has acquired a tear to the top of his left quadriceps muscle,” St Kilda general manager of football Football Simon Lethlean said. “Unfortunately with injuries of this nature, you’re looking at a 10-12 week recovery period, so this will end Dean’s season. “It’s really disappointing for Dean and the club, but we just have to ensure he has the best treatment and we support him and his young family as well as we can.” Kent will meet with surgeons in the coming day as he and the club map out a recovery program to have him right to go for the start of the pre-season.
Al Paton
Is Richmond hiring this guy out for all our kids' parties? Happy third birthday to Mackenzie Cotchin!
An alarming rise in concussions is the key finding of the AFL's annual injury report.
The report reveals diagnosed concussions from AFL matches were up from 63 in 2017 to 74 last season.
The number of concussions per club (which also includes injuries at training) jumped from 1.5 to 2.4 with the number of matches missed also increasing, which can be partially attributed to more conservative management by clubs.
Injuries were up across the board with the number of new injuries per club rising from 35.1 to 39.1 from 2017 to 2018.
Hamstrings remain the most common AFL injury, leading to an average 25.2 missed matches per club per season.
“Player health and safety continues to be the highest priority for the AFL,” football operations manager Steve Hocking said.
“The 2018 injury report provides information that will allow clubs and researchers to continue to investigate ways of reducing injury rates, as well as improving injury management, recovery and protocols.
“Australian Rules Football is a contact sport and as such, injuries will unfortunately be a part of the game. Our aim is to continue to provide players with a safe environment, and support ongoing research into injury prevention and management.”
More concussions a concern for AFL
Al Paton
An alarming rise in concussions is the key finding of the AFL's annual injury report.
The report reveals diagnosed concussions from AFL matches were up from 63 in 2017 to 74 last season.
The number of concussions per club (which also includes injuries at training) jumped from 1.5 to 2.4 with the number of matches missed also increasing, which can be partially attributed to more conservative management by clubs.
Injuries were up across the board with the number of new injuries per club rising from 35.1 to 39.1 from 2017 to 2018.
Hamstrings remain the most common AFL injury, leading to an average 25.2 missed matches per club per season.
“Player health and safety continues to be the highest priority for the AFL,” football operations manager Steve Hocking said.
“The 2018 injury report provides information that will allow clubs and researchers to continue to investigate ways of reducing injury rates, as well as improving injury management, recovery and protocols.
“Australian Rules Football is a contact sport and as such, injuries will unfortunately be a part of the game. Our aim is to continue to provide players with a safe environment, and support ongoing research into injury prevention and management.”
Grigg set to play country footy
Tim Michell
Richmond premiership ruckman Shaun Grigg is set return to his home club to play in the Ballarat Football League.
Grigg, who retired in May due to knee and hip issues, has signed with Redan, reports the Ballarat Courier.
The 31-year-old played 214 AFL games, including the Tigers' drought-breaking 2017 grand final victory.
Redan president Gary Goyne told the Courier last month the club would welcome Grigg back if was keen to continue playing.
"He's a Redan junior, a man of great integrity, and he's kept in contact with Redan, so it would be great to have him involved," he said.
Redan sits top of the Ballarat Football League ladder with a 7-1 record.
Power turns to youth for Dogs clash
Tim Michell
Michelangelo Rucci reports…
Port Adelaide is recalling in-form young guns, ruckman Peter Ladhams and midfielder Willem Drew, for its home clash with the tenacious Western Bulldogs at Adelaide Oval on Saturday.
This will keep Power big guns, club champions Patrick Ryder and Justin Westhoff, former Brisbane captain Tom Rockliff and rising star midfielder Sam Powell-Pepper in the SANFL to find form and confidence before claiming AFL recalls.
And in a promising sign at Alberton, experienced defender Matthew Broadbent has returned to training after taking time out for mental health issues. He — rather than the Power coaches — will determine when he is available for selection.
High performance guru Darren Burgess has promised clubs their stars will be looked after in the Indigenous All Stars clash, while the AFL has decided if Kozzie Pickett can play despite being suspended.
It’s a strange statement to attach to the co-captain of a bottom-four club, but Oscar Allen needs the struggling Eagles more than they need him, writes ELIZA REILLY.
