AFL 2021: Isaac Heeney’s hand injury self-inflicted in off-the-ball incident

Isaac Heeney has had no luck with injury over the journey. How long will he miss with his latest blow? Find out what the Swans are thinking.

Ruckman Tom Hickey was at the centre of a divisive umpiring call. Picture: Getty Images

Sydney officials will seek medical opinions this weekend on star forward Isaac Heeney’s broken right hand before deciding whether surgery is required.

The 24-year-old suffered the break when his hand was caught in an awkward position in a contest in the second quarter of Thursday night’s three-point win over Essendon.

Heeney went straight from the ground to have the injury assessed and later emerged with a large bag of ice on the hand.

He was almost immediately subbed out of the match for James Bell.

It’s believed Heeney sustained a clean break and there is hope he can avoid an operation, but that will be determined in the coming days.

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Isaac Heeney after injuring his hand against Essendon. Picture: Getty Images

Swans coach John Longmire said post-match that Heeney could be set for a month on the sidelines.

“It’s just terrible luck for him. He’s one of our best preparers; he trains so hard, he’s worked so hard to come back from his ankle (injury) and he’s got a crack in his hand,” Longmire said.

“(He’ll miss) three, four weeks, I guess, depending on what happens … I’m not sure on what the official diagnosis is, but what Isaac is, is a really positive person.

“He’ll get over that disappointment tonight and get to work and get himself right, but he’s been in great form for us this year and he’s a really important forward threat.”

Heeney already had nine disposals, six marks and two behinds by the time he left the field midway through the second term.

He played only six games last season because of a serious ankle injury, which included a dislocation, ruptured medial ligament and torn tendons.

Heeney underwent multiple surgeries in the aftermath and required months of rehabilitation, to the point that as recently as the start of February he was in doubt for Round 1.

Any lengthy Heeney absence would be a blow for the unbeaten Swans, given he kicked eight goals across the first three rounds.

Isaac Heeney leaves the SCG. Picture: Getty Images

HEENEY LEFT RED-FACED AS BIZARRE INJURY REVEALED

Jay Clark

The AFL has cleared Essendon’s Brandon Zerk-Thatcher of any wrongdoing in the off-the-ball incident which cost Sydney Swans’ star Isaac Heeney a broken hand.

The gun goal kicker was caught up in a behind the play push-and-shove with the Essendon defender in the second term on Thursday night when Heeney sustained the injury.

The league has reviewed the incident from multiple angles and found Zerk-Thatcher has nothing to answer as Heeney’s injury was self-inflicted.

Heeney breaking his hand. Must be a reasonable amount of force behind the hit to break bones. Probably won't be looked at, but interesting all the same pic.twitter.com/oXeW3aqpTl

— Gordon (@beetgordon_) April 9, 2021

Heeney appeared to do the damage to his hand when he shoved Zerk-Thatcher in a bid to break away from the defender in the middle of the ground.

The pair were about 30m off the ball when it took place.

The Swans are aware Heeney hurt his hand in the push-and-shove and have no plans to issue a complaint about the incident.

Heeney faces about four weeks on the sidelines depending on the extent of the damage.

He will consult a specialist to determine whether he needs surgery.

AFL TICKS OFF HICKEY UMPIRING CALL

The AFL has ticked-off the decision not to pay holding the ball against Sydney Swans’ ruckman Tom Hickey which has divided the football public.

The league has confirmed it was the right call not to penalise the in-form big man when he was tackled by Nik Cox in the frantic final moment of the Swans’ thrilling win.

The Swans led by three points with 40 seconds remaining when Hickey grabbed the ball out of the air and was unable to get a handball away before he was brought to ground on the forward flank.

Hickey took about 16 steps between grabbing the footy and being tackled.

Tom Hickey holding the ball free kick 2021

Channel 7 caller and Western Bulldogs’ great Luke Darcy said immediately after the play “Hickey, grabbed it, hasn’t got rid of it, got to be gone.”

Likewise, Brisbane Lions’ legend Jonathan Brown said “that was a mistake”.

“That should have been paid holding the ball … I thought that was a poor decision by the umpire,” Brown said on Fox Footy.

But Hickey would have grabbed the ball out of the ruck knowing he could have been tackled in a bid to take time off the clock and force another ball-up.

Under a little known rule tweak at the end of 2018, ruckmen are free to grab the ball out of the ruck at boundary throw-ins, bounces and ball-ups without it counting as prior opportunity.

It means ruckmen can grab the ball out of the ruck and get tackled without giving away a free kick.

Holding the ball? 👀 pic.twitter.com/0Ha6y8yu6w

— 7AFL (@7AFL) April 8, 2021

The rule change was designed to encourage ruckmen to take possession of the ball and try and hit up a teammate with an effective disposal.

AFL football operations boss Steve Hocking said the rule change was designed to give ruckmen more freedom and leeway in the game.

“We are looking to advance ruckmen, we want all types of players playing the game,” Hocking said.

“This is a huge advantage as far as the ruckmen goes.”

Hickey is seen to try and get a handball away with his right fist but Cox is also holding the Swans’ left arm into his body, effectively handcuffing Hickey.

The ball bounces free when Hickey hits the turf and the Sydney big man immediately puts his left hand on the footy to try and reclaim possession when the whistle is blown.