Sydney star Isaac Heeney is having the best start to a season since the Champion Data rankings have begun.
The 27-year-old started his year against Melbourne with one goal, 26 disposals, 12 score involvements and 13 clearances then backed that up with two goals, 29 disposals, 10 score involvements and seven marks on the MCG against Collingwood.
That two-game start has him ahead of any player across the first two rounds of a season since 2010 when the rankings were brought in.
Champion Data’s Daniel Hoyne explained who Heeney had to beat out to get himself to the top in terms of a two-game stretch with the Swan in elite company.
“This is the best start to a season that we've seen since the ratings have begun,” Hoyne said.
“This is the best two-game period to start a season that we've seen.
“This is the company that Isaac is in. So, the best start to the season that we've seen was Christian Petracca in 2022.
“Second best was Scott Pendlebury in 2017, third was Dusty in 2021 and fourth was Dusty in 2018.
“Walk up Hall of Famers he is in the same company as and now Isaac Heaney comes in next.
“To finish off that the outlier is Brent Stanton who had the sixth-best start to a season in 2012.”
Heeney’s efforts in Opening Round and Round 1 were just the seventh time in ratings history that one player has been the highest-ranked player across the AFL for consecutive rounds.
The Swan joined Dustin Martin, Patrick Dangerfield, Adam Goodes and Dayne Zorko on that list.
Martin is the only player ever to do it for three straight rounds from Rounds 20 to 22 in 2020. Heeney will join him if he can repeat his efforts again in Round 2.
Heeney and the Swans next face Essendon at the SCG on Saturday night.
