Josh Jenkins isn’t ready to go all-in on Isaac Heeney despite the star Swan’s remarkable start to the 2022 AFL season.
Heeney spoke throughout the pre-season about how he had finally enjoyed an injury-free run, while the Swans said they were confident the 25-year-old was now primed for a midfield role.
Playing in a hybrid midfield/forward role in the first two rounds, Heeney has racked up 46 disposals, 11 tackles, eight goals and eight clearances so far this season and could well hold six Brownlow votes.
SEN’s Andy Maher believes the star’s performances to start the season signal that he is now the “complete package”.
“He’s been building and building and building this fella, and he’s now the complete package in terms of what he knows he’s got,” he told SEN’s The Run Home.
“He’s super confident… He’s tough.”
However, former Adelaide forward Josh Jenkins isn’t yet sold.
Heeney has consistently teased his potential throughout eight years in the league after being taken as a first-round draft pick but has struggled to string a number of good games together.
Despite numerous factors presenting in Heeney’s favour this year, including his age, full pre-season and midfield role, Jenkins needs to see the Swan put together a longer body of work in 2022 before he makes his full judgement.
“I don’t want to put a dampener on things… But I’m holding on Isaac,” Jenkins said.
“He’s an outstanding player, but has he put six or eight weeks together at this kind of level, or has he done it two out of every three (games) or one out of every two.
“I just want to hold, I’m holding. I appreciate what I’ve seen, he’s probably been among the best six or eight players in the competition at the moment, but I’m holding.
“Even I played two good games in a row once, anyone can play two good games, can you play four or five (in a row).”
Heeney has spent more time forward in 2022, but may feature more on the ball in the coming weeks with small forward Tom Papley expected to return from a hamstring injury in the coming weeks.