Isaac Heeney has been instrumental in Sydney’s rise up the ladder this year and his talents were on full display during his side’s win over Carlton on Sunday.
The 25-year-old booted three goals, took 14 marks and had 10 score involvements from 22 disposals and was the difference when the game was on the line.
He started the year in All-Australian form before a hand injury put his season on pause, but Heeney has picked back up where he left off.
Kane Cornes believes Heeney is among the 20 best players in the competition.
“I just love the way he goes about it. He’s selfless in that he plays wherever they want him to play, whether it’s midfield or forward,” Cornes told SEN Breakfast.
“A couple of times he marks the footy 70 metres out and he just goes. He doesn’t wait for anything. He just rolls and the forwards love it.
“A couple of times he delivered it lace out to Buddy.
“He’s tough, he plays footy the right way and goes forward. He hasn’t had a great look at it with his body.
“Now that he’s starting to get some continuity, he’s a top 20 player in the game.”
Garry Lyon feels Heeney could quickly become the game’s most marketable player.
“If I’m in the marketing team of the AFL, Isaac Heeney, he’s almost front and square for me as nearly the most marketable person in footy,” he said.
“The way he plays, the way he presents and the way he looks.
“Dustin Martin is obviously number one and Lance Franklin, but I watched Heeney on the news last night. We just watched him rip the game apart, he was fantastic, no one could match up on him and he looked like he wouldn’t blow a candle out.
“He looks like a male model has wandered in and he was happy to be there. I thought, there’s not a bad bloke to promote footy.”
Heeney has kicked 16.10 so far this season, while averaging seven marks, six score involvements and 15 disposals per game.