Isaac Heeney has continued the discussion of the high cost of living in Sydney for the Swans and the GWS Giants, admitting he factored that into his new contract.
Heeney, 25, took himself off the free agency table when signing a massive six-year deal on Wednesday, confirming his faith in the club he was drafted to back in 2014.
The Cost of Living Allowance (COLA) was scrapped after Sydney recruited Lance Franklin and Kurt Tippet in consecutive years earlier in the decade and has not returned for players.
However, when asked if he used Sydney’s cost of living – with average house prices charging towards $1.4 million – as leverage in the new deal, the dynamic Swan confirmed that was a consideration.
“Absolutely, if you’re going to go something half decent, probably only a two-bedroom (place), you’re spending $1000 a week on something small and reasonably close to the coast,” Heeney told Sportsday.
“It is through the roof up here but it’s an amazing part of the world to live in as well.”
Sydney co-captain Callum Mills also recently proposed the reintroduction of COLA due to the high cost of living in Sydney.
Heeney has consistently been touted as one of the stars of the future, and the time to make good on that hype is now.
After suffering a myriad of injury concerns over the last 24 months, Heeney did his contract offer no harm when he was one of Sydney’s best in their harrowing Elimination Final loss to the Giants.
In describing the significant toll injuries have taken, the former first-round draft pick admitted he played “sore most of the year” in 2021, a season where he still averaged 16 disposals, six marks and just under two goals a game.
“I feel like I can definitely take the next step (in 2022),” Heeney confirmed.
“In 2020 I did my ankle early in the season and missed the rest of the season, and that leading into 2021 was tough, because I didn’t really have a pre-season.
“I was just building, building, building and I didn’t join the team until a couple of weeks out from Round 1.
“Throughout the pre-season, I didn’t get as much under my belt in terms of training and kilometres in the legs… yes, I was sore but I worked hard at making sure I could get out there week in and week out and I think I only missed a game with ankle soreness.
“I mean it was sore most of the year, but just enough to let it rest knowing that hopefully, I could finish the season strong, then I obviously broke my hand, had surgery, and missed a game there too.
“That was probably one of the most frustrating things, I felt like I was getting on a roll, then to break your hand, have surgery, and I played 10 days later so it was restricted for about a month after that.
“It’s been frustrating, little niggles here and there… you always play with niggles, but it’d be nice to have a year when I can play as healthy as possible.”
The next step has always involved a full-time move to the midfield, and 2022 beckons as the year that could occur.
Heeney has been training with the midfielders but could spend time forward early in the season due to Tom Papley’s hamstring injury.
“Ultimately, I’d love to be a midfielder that that goes forward and hits the scoreboard,” Heeney added.
“That’s what I’d love, I’ve been doing a fair bit of training in the midfield over the pre-season which has been nice.
“But ultimately it comes down to a bit of personnel and injuries and the like, so obviously if 'Horse' (coach John Longmire) needs to put me someone else I’ll do whatever he needs, whatever is best for the team.”
The Swans take on North Melbourne this weekend in the club’s final warm-up game for 2022, before kicking off the season with an Elimination Final rematch against the Giants in Round 1.
Listen to the full interview with Isaac Heeney below