Swans pleaded with the AFL last summer to not introduce rule that has seen Heeney banned

Sydney pleaded with the AFL as far back as January not to introduce the rule change that has seen Isaac Heeney suspended and ruled ineligible for the Brownlow Medal.

In a stunning premonition of what was to come, the Swans replied to a league request for feedback, arguing a proposed crackdown on striking when it came to pushing or fending players was fraught with danger.

Heeney and Sydney will tomorrow night fight to keep the midfielder’s Brownlow hopes alive in front of the AFL Appeals Board.

But the Swans wrote to the AFL over summer about this rule, warning them of potentially unfair outcomes and stating they did not support the proposed amendment.

The club argued the guidelines should instead make allowances for accidental or unintended contact that amounts to a strike.

The Swans insisted there would be a risk of harsh outcomes in circumstances where a push or fend was executed properly and would otherwise form an accepted act in the game.

But in a statement a month later, the AFL said: “The guidelines for the grading of striking have been strengthened to increase the onus on players to not commit a strike even when seeking to fend and push their opponent.

“In instances where a player intends to forcefully push or fend an opposition player off the ball (including to gain separation for the purpose of contesting the ball) and the effect is that the player “strikes” their opponent, the strike will usually be graded as intentional rather than careless.” 

Five months later, Heeney looked to gain separation from St Kilda defender Jimmy Webster last Sunday, when his right arm made contact with Webster’s face, drawing blood.

Heeney was cited by the match review officer for striking in an incident that was assessed as intentional, low impact and high contact, triggering a one-match ban.

Heeney has been among the favourites for the Brownlow medal for much of the season.