Isaac Heeney, Eddie McGuire clash over Sydney Swans Academy

Isaac Heeney struck a nerve with the former Collingwood president ahead of Saturday’s grand final against the Lions.

Sydney superstar Isaac Heeney and Eddie McGuire have clashed over one of the former Collingwood president’s longest standing issues, the AFL Academies in NSW and Queensland.

During his 23-year tenure as president of his beloved Magpies, McGuire took extreme exception to what he viewed as major advantages to clubs in the northern states over their academy systems.

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McGuire once said the structure allowed the clubs involved to “hide” football talent from the rest of the competition.

That allegation was strongly refuted by the clubs at the time, with Swans chairman Andrew Pridham blasting McGuire in a long letter published on the club’s website.

“Players are not ‘hidden away’ as McGuire claims,” Pridham wrote back in 2014.

“Despite his claims, McGuire and the entire football world seem to have a very good grasp on a number of talented players currently within our Academy system, as we would expect.”

Isaac Heeney at Swans training ahead of the grand final. (Photo by Phil Hillyard)

Former Roosters and NSW star Anthony Minichiello (right) was Heeney’s hero.

On Wednesday night, Heeney opted to tread back over that old contentious ground during an appearance on Channel 9’s Footy Classified.

It all began when Matthew Lloyd asked Heeney about his sporting prowess as a youngster, with the former Essendon full forward retelling a story that suggested the blond Swan could have pursued cricket or soccer as a profession.

While he downplayed those assertions, the sport Heeney was most closely linked with was rugby league, having grown up in NRL-mad Newcastle in NSW.

The 28-year-old then admitted what made the difference when he was choosing which sport to pursue.

“I did love every sport growing up,” Heeney began.

“As much as Eddie’s probably not going to like this, but it was for the Academy that I pursued AFL.”

“No, he won’t,” journalist Damian Barrett is heard quickly shooting back.

“You brought it up, OK!” McGuire then replied with a big grin across his face.

Heeney then explained that even after he had linked up with the Swans Academy, he was still closing watching rugby league.

“Apologies, apologies,” the two-time All Australian replied. “But honestly, if it wasn’t for that I think I’d be playing NRL.

“My family played (NRL), no one in my family played AFL. My old man loved NRL and it was because of the Academy (I chose AFL).

“Sorry Eddie...” Photo: Channel 9

The NRL’s loss has been AFL’s gain. Photo: Fox Sports

“The first couple of years even in the Academy, I loved NRL more.

“I had Anthony Minichiello at the Roosters here, the fullback, that I idolised and wanted to be like him.

“It wasn’t until the age of 14, 15 that Chris Smith (former Head) at the Academy was like ‘mate, you’re going to have to choose a sport’.

“I said ‘you know what, I see a clear pathway here, I feel I’m enjoying it and doing well at it, so I’ll give it a crack’.”

He then added a cheeky “sorry, Eddie” before the TV personality insisted: “Isaac, I wasn’t ever against the Academies, it was the fairness along the way to square it all up.”

Barrett then chimed in with: “Let it go Ed.”

Heeney made his debut for the Swans back in 2015 and played his 200th match in last week’s preliminary final victory over Port Adelaide.

He now has an opportunity for a first premiership in Saturday’s clash with the Lions.