Garry Lyon and Tim Watson have disagreed over whether Sydney’s Isaac Heeney can replicate the rise of Melbourne superstar Christian Petracca in becoming an elite midfielder.
Both at 25-years of age, Heeney has predominantly played as an electric forward with stints in the midfield during his career, while Petracca featured in a similar role before becoming one of the game’s best on-ballers in the past two years.
The Swans star averaged 16 disposals and just under two goals a game in 2021, while Melbourne’s Norm Smith Medallist collected 30 disposals and a goal a game this season to highlight the difference between the duo.
Coming into the prime of his career, John Longmire needs to make a call on whether or not Heeney can become a full-time dynamic midfielder, and Tim Watson believes he can’t reach the heights of the best midfielders in the game.
“(Heeney will) never have the power that Petracca has. There are very few players in the competition that have the actual power of Petracca,” Watson told SEN Breakfast.
“I’m not saying he’s not skilful, but I don’t think he has the same movement, or the same awareness, or the same creativity that somebody like a Petracca has.
“(Petracca) has always had (those qualities). What he didn’t have was the ability to go in there and play for long enough in the midfield.
“He always had those things, those things were always part of his armoury but he didn’t have the endurance to do it often enough, where he has that now and it’s all come together.
“(Heeney) can be a midfielder, but I don’t think he’s ever going to reach the level that those other players have already reached.”
However, Lyon disagrees and says the Swans should challenge Heeney over the summer to build his fitness and take his talents to the midfield.
Josh Kennedy will turn 34 during next season and won’t have much footy left in him, while George Hewett’s exit will open a spot in the Swans midfield.
“I say challenge Isaac Heeney. See if he can become that player, see if he can be in the best three or four players in the competition,” he said.
“I think he’s an unbelievably powerful athlete.
“I think he’s going to waste his talents if he’s a 70 per cent forward, bit in the midfield, 36 goals (type of player).”