“Don’t give me an excuse”: Cornes calls out Heeney’s GF performance despite shin injury

Sydney superstar Isaac Heeney failed to have much of an impact in Saturday’s 60-120 Grand Final loss to Brisbane.

The star on-baller had to deal with close attention from Josh Dunkley at stoppages all day and as a result, he was kept to just one goal and 14 disposals.

It was a huge decline from his previous two finals where he was handed maximum votes from the coaches in the Gary Ayres Medal for best afield, and Swans coach John Longmire revealed post-match that he was dealing with a stress fracture in his ankle throughout the game.

While Heeney wasn’t at full fitness on Saturday, the injury occurred before the club’s September campaign began.

As a result, Kane Cornes called out the Swans for offering up an excuse for their star as it clearly didn’t hamper him in the finals wins over GWS and Port Adelaide leading into the Grand Final.

After Heeney also had a poor Grand Final in the 2022 loss to Geelong, Cornes questioned his preparation before playing on the biggest stage.

“He was poor yesterday once again, he was clearly heartbroken,” Cornes told Nine’s Sunday Footy Show.

“But he was the hottest player in football coming into this game, he was the favourite for the Norm Smith Medal.

“He was walking on water in the Qualifying Final and in the Prelim Final Port Adelaide had no answers – he was a man possessed.

“But to turn up yesterday and not give the performance that he had all year (was disappointing).

“I was disappointed to hear from John Longmire after the game that there was a stress reaction in his shin.

“Well, there was no stress reaction in his shin in the Prelim Final and Qualifying Final, don’t give me an excuse.

“He had an 11-disposal in 2022 and yesterday he hardly went near it and had no influence.

“I just don’t want the injury excuses. Isaac has to look at his preparation for big games into why he’s failed again as the best player in football this year, but not on the biggest stage yesterday.”