Sydney fails to get Isaac Heeney’s ban overturned at the AFL Appeals Board
Sydney has failed at the AFL Appeals Board, with the one-game ban handed to star Isaac Heeney on Tuesday night standing. Here’s how the hearing played out.
A shattered Isaac Heeney has pledged to make this season “a special one” for Sydney after conceding his 2024 Brownlow Medal dream was over following the loss of his AFL Appeals Board case on Thursday night.
Heeney’s one-match ban for striking St Kilda’s Jimmy Webster last Sunday was upheld, leaving the Brownlow Medal favourite ineligible for the AFL’s highest individual honour.
He has also been sidelined for the Swans’ clash with North Melbourne at the SCG on Saturday, despite initially being named in the team as the Appeals Board hearing was still underway.
In a statement released after it was determined there were no grounds for overturning Tuesday’s tribunal hearing, Heeney thanked the Swans for pressing his case, and insisted he would “make sure I do this club proud” when he returned in round 19.
“I’m extremely disappointed with that result, (it’s) pretty shattering to be honest, but I just wanted to jump on here and give a heartfelt thank you,” an emotional Heeney said.
“The show of support (was great) from the club from the top down - being (CEO) Tom Harley, ‘Horse’ (coach John Longmire), (executive general manager of football) Leon (Cameron) and our lawyer Duncan (Miller) … I also wanted to say thank you so much for the support of the fans, the members and the wider community.
“Obviously I won’t be on the footy field (this weekend), but I will be there to support the boys, the coaching staff and the staff at the club.
“I want to … make sure this year is a special one. I will be back out there soon.”
Heeney’s hot start to the season saw him average 28 touches, 6.5 clearances, five tackles and 1.5 goals per game through the first six games, which had him as a raging Brownlow Medal favourite.
In a hearing that lasted almost two and a half hours, Sydney’s counsel contested key parts of Tuesday’s verdict.
The Swans argued that the tribunal made an erroneous interpretation of the classification of strikes, claimed it did not give adequate thought to grading the incident as ‘careless’ instead of ‘intentional’, and contended it was “in play” not “off the ball”.
But AFL Appeals Board chair Will Houghton rejected the Swans’ argument: “To our mind … we do not consider that the tribunal acted unreasonably, or unjustly, or unfairly … accordingly the appeal by player Heeney is dismissed.”
It also rejected a call from the Swans to take into consideration Heeney’s “almost unblemished record” over 193 games.
A message from Isaac Heeney â¤ï¸ pic.twitter.com/oZ7N1E8TVI
— Sydney Swans (@sydneyswans) July 11, 2024
Miller had closed his argument by referencing Charlie Cameron’s controversial ‘good bloke” defence, which helped the Brisbane Lions forward have a suspension downgraded to a fine in April.
Heeney attended Thursday night’s hearing, sitting alongside Miller, but did not give evidence as he did on Tuesday night.
AFL counsel Andrew Woods argued that the Swans had failed to make valid legal points about why the suspension should be overturned.
He claimed they were dissatisfied with the contentious AFL rule amendment surrounding a fend off being deemed an intentional strike.
Woods argued: “It’s abundantly clear there was an intention to push or fend ... once you have that, if a strike is the result, it will be intentional unless there’s an unusual aspect to it.”
Heeney had been handed a one-match suspension for a strike on Webster that drew blood during the Swans’ loss last weekend.
The then Brownlow Medal favourite was attempting to free himself from Webster’s grapple when he made contact with the Saints defender, flooring him.
Match Review Officer Michael Christian determined the strike to be intentional, high contact and low impact, resulting in a one-match ban.
The Swans argued the conduct should have been graded careless, which would have resulted in a fine instead of a suspension.
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