AFL superstar Isaac Heeney has been spotted at an inner-city Sydney pub – in a moonboot – as he joined his Swans teammates to drown their sorrows following their grand final flogging at the hands of Brisbane.
Heeney, 28, ventured to a watering hole in Chippendale for ‘Mad Monday’, no doubt still shattered after his team’s poor showing against the Lions at the MCG, where they lost by 60 points.
The likes of Brodie Grundy, Taylor Adams, Corey Warner, Hayden McLean and Aaron Francis joined the gun midfielder for a few drinks, with the playing group left to ponder what might have been.
Questions have been asked about the Bloods’ big game mentality, after they were also thrashed in the 2022 decider versus Geelong.
It comes after outspoken footy commentator Kane Cornes refused to believe Heeney’s stress fracture ‘excuse’ following his woeful performance in the AFL grand final.
Heeney failed to deliver for the Swans as they were trounced by Brisbane in front of more than 100,000 fans.
He came off the field midway through the final quarter and Sydney coach John Longmire revealed post-match that his star man has been struggling with a stress fracture to his ankle.
But Cornes has rubbished that claim and pointed to Heeney’s 11-touch performance in their 2022 defeat by Geelong to suggest that the midfielder does not prepare well enough for the big games.
AFL superstar Issac Heeney was spotted at an inner-city Sydney pub on Monday – in a moonboot (pictured)
It followed Heeney’s tame performance in the AFL grand final against Brisbane at the MCG
Swans players including Heeney (second from right) Brodie Grundy, (left) Taylor Adams, Hayden McLean, Aaron Francis, Corey Warner and Peter Ladhams drowned their sorrows following more grand final heartache
Meanwhile, commentator Kane Cornes has blasted Isaac Heeney’s grand final injury ‘excuse’
Coach John Longmire claimed Heeney was suffering a stress fracture during the big game
‘He was the hottest player in football coming into this game….he was walking on water in the qualifying final,’ Cornes said.
‘In the preliminary final, Port Adelaide had no answers – he [Heeney] was a man possessed.
‘Only to then turn up and not give the performance when it mattered.’
Referring to the stress fracture excuse, Cornes said: ‘Yeah, well, there was no stress reaction in his shin in the prelim final or qualifying final, so don’t give me an injury excuse,’ he continued.
‘An 11 disposal performance in 2022 [grand final], on Saturday [again] he hardly went near it and had no influence. ‘I just don’t want the injury excuses.
‘Isaac has to look at his preparation in the big games…mainly why he has failed again on the biggest stage.’
Before the grand final, Heeney had been widely tipped for the Brownlow Medal.
A suspension ruled him out of contention, with Carlton star Patrick Cripps taking home the coveted individual honour.
