Swans midfield gun Isaac Heeney plans to hit the scoreboard more this year

Sydney ace Isaac Heeney says he can take his game ‘to the next level’ this season, and he’ll use teammate Luke Parker as a role model on how to get there.

Sydney Swans player Isaac Heeney at the Royal Hall of Industries in Moore Park, Sydney.

Sydney ace star Isaac Heeney has vowed to make a bigger impact — and kick more goals — when pushing forward this season, saying he wants to channel teammate Luke Parker’s versatility.

Heeney is coming off a career-best season in which he finished fourth in the Swans best-and-fairest award, but after completing his first full AFL pre-season, the 22-year-old is hoping to elevate his game to the next level.

PRE-SEASON: WHY SWANS ARE DODGING DOG WALKERS

STRONG VOICE: LONGMIRE’S CRUSADE FOR PLAYERS’ MENTAL HEALTH

INJURIES: BUDDY IN DOUBT FOR ROUND 1

“I haven’t had a full pre-season before this year; it’s always been majorly interrupted for me,” Heeney said of the tendinitis, glandular fever and knee surgery that caused him trouble in previous pre-seasons. “But I’ve pretty much done every session this time.”

“I am feeling really fit and ready to go. Hopefully, touch wood, it will mean I will be able to run out games a bit better and to produce a full and consistent season.

“I feel I can take my game to the next level and help the team go to the next level, too.”

Isaac Heeney has completed a full pre-season for the first time in his career. Picture: Phil Hillyard

The fact that the powerful and talented Heeney has got his body in peak shape going into his fifth AFL season means he wants to make a greater impact on the scoreboard.

“It will probably be a similar (breakdown) in terms of me playing in the midfield, but when I went down forward last year it was more about having a bit of a rest,” he said. “But after having such a good pre-season, I think I can make more of an impact (in attack).

“Rather than resting down there, I’d like to have a bigger influence and help create more goals.

“You have to be a versatile player these days. You look at someone like Luke Parker, who has been so consistently good over the years. He’s someone who I look up to and base my game on.”

Heeney, who will play for Nat Fyfe’s Flyers in Friday night’s AFLX series at Marvel Stadium, says anyone underestimating the Swans will do so at their own peril.

“I hope we do go into the season as underdogs, that will get the boys up and running,” he laughed. “I am really excited with where we are at right now.

“I think 70 per cent of our list is under 24, or something like that … that’s exciting for us.”

He predicted highly-rated Swans Academy pick Nick Blakey — the son of AFL star John Blakey — would make an immediate impact, saying he was “a serious talent.”

“He is strong, he can take a good overhead mark and I believe he can break a game apart,” Heeney told the Herald Sun from the Swans’ Fans Day in Sydney.

“We’ll see how he goes, but I am backing him to have a good crack at the senior team.”

Heeney, who was added to the leadership group this year along with Callum Mills and Tom Papley, says Lance Franklin (groin) remains a chance to play in the Swans’ Round 1 clash against the Western Bulldogs at Marvel Stadium on March 23.

Every game of every round of the 2019 Toyota AFL Premiership Season LIVE with no ad-breaks during play. SIGN UP NOW!