Latest news with #IsaacHeeney
Yahoo
5 days ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Dogs celebrate Bont milestone with tense win over Swans
The Western Bulldogs have given their AFL finals hopes another shot in the arm with an entertaining nine-point win over Sydney. Joel Freijah kicked four goals as the Bulldogs seized control early and resisted a strong Swans fightback to post the 16.9 (105) to 14.12 (96) victory at the SCG on Friday night. It was the Bulldogs' third-straight win and improved their record to 9-6, solidifying their spot in the top eight, while the Swans (6-9) face an uphill battle to play finals. Bulldogs superstar Marcus Bontempelli (18 disposals, one goal) celebrated his 250-game milestone but was upstaged by his protege Freijah, who kicked a career-best four majors from 23 touches. In game 250, this is VINTAGE Bont 🙌#AFLSwansDogs — AFL (@AFL) June 27, 2025 Key forwards Sam Darcy and Aaron three goals each against an undersized Sydney defence, who lost Tom McCartin (illness) before the bounce and Dane Rampe (calf tightness) mid-game. Swans superstar Isaac Heeney threatened to drag his side over the line with five goals and ruckman Brodie Grundy was outstanding after quarter-time. Tom Papley lit a fuse when he targeted Darcy before the bounce and the Bulldogs' spearhead responded with the first two goals of the match. Both were teed up by Tim English, who had three goal assists in the first term alone, and the Dogs led 4.2 to 3.5 after term one. Darcy's brilliant finish on the run kick-started the second quarter and another two goals from Naughton helped the visitors skip 28 points clear before the main break. But the Swans, despite a series of bad misses from set shots, hit back with three consecutive majors to trim the margin to nine points by halftime. Sydney's Heeney and the Bulldogs' Freijah lit up the third quarter at opposite ends - kicking four goals and three respectively - and the lead changed hands six times as the teams repeatedly traded blows. At one point the Dogs kicked four consecutive goals to reassert their authority, but Heeney's fourth meant the teams kicked 6.1 apiece in a rollicking third term. The contest became an arm-wrestle in the final quarter and the Bulldogs hung on, with Hayden McLean blowing a late change to set up a grandstand finish. McLean's miss with about one minute left continued the trend of the night, with the wayward Swans kicking 4.10 from set shots to the Dogs' 8.5. Sydney swingman Aaron Francis faces scrutiny over a swinging arm to Lachie Bramble's body. Francis and direct opponent Rory Lobb can also expect fines over their prolonged wrestling match in the final term.
West Australian
23-06-2025
- Sport
- West Australian
GEORGIE PARKER: Calls to scrap AFL's northern academies ignore their role in growing the game
The AFL has always taken pride in its draft system — a mechanism designed to maintain parity across a national competition. In theory, it ensures every club gets a fair shot at success, regardless of their location or financial muscle. But when it comes to the northern states, particularly NSW and Queensland, the challenges run deeper than just draft picks — which is why the northern academies were created. In Victoria, South Australia, and Western Australia, footy is religion. Kids grow up with a Sherrin in their hands, and the competition between codes is minimal. But in rugby league heartlands like Sydney and Brisbane, AFL is still the challenger. This is why the northern academies are not just useful — they're essential. Take it from All-Australian Sydney Swan Isaac Heeney: 'If it wasn't for the academy, I would not have been playing AFL, and I would have given NRL a crack… If you want to lose players to other codes, we can abolish it, but I think it's super important for those northern clubs.' That's the point. The northern academies aren't there to give Sydney or Brisbane an unfair edge — they exist to level the playing field in regions where AFL isn't the dominant sport. They engage young talent who may otherwise slip through the cracks into rival codes like rugby league or union. They build the game where it needs building. Alongside the northern academies run the Next Generation Academies, aimed at Indigenous and multicultural talent and divided into catchment zones — and don't clubs love fighting about those zones. Ironically, critics of the northern academies often come from the most powerful and well-resourced clubs in the competition — clubs with strong recruiting pull, packed MCG fixtures, full Adelaide Oval and Optus Stadium crowds, and the allure of family legacy. The father-son rule, for example, is a beautiful part of the game's heritage. Imagine Gary Ablett Jr. not wearing the same hoops as his dad, or Nick Daicos not donning number 35 for Collingwood. The romance of lineage is something we rightly treasure. But it also comes with an inherent bias. Victorian clubs, especially the large ones, often benefit from having generations of talent funnel through their doors — sometimes with discounted draft picks. These big clubs stay quiet when it works for them, so the outrage over a player developed in Queensland or NSW staying at a northern club feels a little hollow. It's a classic case of: 'Fine if it benefits us, but if it doesn't, then we don't want it.' Ultimately, draft night is a gamble anyway. You're hoping a kid is going to live up to the expectations you place on them — with no guarantee of return. An insanely clear modern example of this came in 2020, when Adelaide held the number one pick, only for it to be snapped up by the Western Bulldogs via the Next Generation Academy. The Crows were 'forced' to settle for pick two. As it turns out, that worked out just fine. The number one pick, Jamarra Ugle-Hagan, hasn't seen a football field in 2025. Meanwhile, remember who the number two pick was? Riley Thilthorpe — arguably the best forward in the competition right now. So yes, draft integrity is important, but it's still a roll of the dice. Drafting an 18-year-old is one thing. But the real race is won — or lost — in list management and the recruitment of established A-graders. If we want fairness, let's grow the game where it's weak. That's what the academies are doing — and it's exactly why they need to stay.
Yahoo
08-06-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Geelong star defender in the clear over brutal bump
Geelong star Tom Stewart has been cleared of any wrongdoing for his crunching bump on Gold Coast's Noah Anderson. Stewart's decision to bump his opponent on Saturday as the two came in for the ball from opposite directions could have landed him in hot water, with the collision resulting in Anderson's head hitting the turf. Anderson wasn't concussed in the incident, but he was sent for precautionary scans on his chest. OUCH! A massive collision between two star players. Hope Noah Anderson is okay 🙏📺 Watch #AFLCatsSuns LIVE on ch.504 or stream on Kayo: ✍️ BLOG 🔢 MATCH CENTRE — Fox Footy (@FOXFOOTY) June 7, 2025 Given the actual bump wasn't high, the AFL deemed Stewart had no case to answer. "It was the view of the MRO (match review officer) that Stewart's actions were not unreasonable in the circumstances and did not constitute a reportable offence," the findings read. It means Stewart is free to play in Geelong's blockbuster clash with Essendon at the MCG next Saturday. In other MRO news, Isaac Heeney, Jack Martin, Joel Jeffrey and Thomas Green all copped fines for careless contact with an umpire.
7NEWS
07-06-2025
- Sport
- 7NEWS
Swans keep Tigers goalless for over a half in much-needed win
Sydney have strangled Richmond for a badly needed 44-point win, keeping the Tigers goalless for more than a half at the MCG. The Swans' slogging 11.14 (80) to 4.12 (36) win in cold conditions on Saturday was only their third in 11 visits to the MCG, punctuated by two heavy grand final losses over the past three years. Sydney's record improves to 5-8, giving their season a glimmer of hope. After last weekend's last-quarter fadeout against GWS, Richmond started brightly and led by 12 points at quarter time. But the rebuilding Tigers did not kick a goal from 19 minutes in the first quarter until 22 minutes into the last — unofficially a club record. All-Australian defender Nick Blakey, derided this week by some in the media as one of the season's biggest disappointments, was outstanding with 34 disposals and eight inside 50s. Isaac Heeney starred in the midfield and James Jordon played his role to perfection as a defensive forward on in-form Richmond defender Nick Vlastuin, kicking three goals. Tigers onballer Dion Prestia was on fire in the first quarter with 13 possessions, but James Rowbottom then paid him more attention and he only had 21 for the game. Sydney ruckman Brodie Grundy also had a day out, beating Richmond captain Toby Nankervis in another crucial match-up for the Swans. The longer the game went, the more apparent was Nankervis's frustration. Coming off big losses to Melbourne - at the MCG - and Adelaide at home, the Swans were in big trouble early. Richmond had 10 of the first 12 inside 50s and it was 10-4 at quarter time, with the tackle count also a lopsided 11-6 in the Tigers' favour. But Sydney made the game a scrap at the start of the second term and Heeney kicked a goal at 13 minutes to give them the lead. The Swans led by 14 points at the main break and they kicked 10 unanswered goals until Seth Campbell put through his second late in the final term.
West Australian
07-06-2025
- Sport
- West Australian
Goal drought: Tigers stumble, Swans finally fire at MCG
Sydney have strangled Richmond for a badly needed 44-point win, keeping the Tigers goal-less for more than a half at the MCG. The Swans' slogging 11.14 (80) to 4.12 (36) win in cold conditions on Saturday was only their third in 11 visits to the MCG, punctuated by two heavy grand final losses over the past three years. Sydney's record improves to 5-8, giving their season a glimmer of hope. After last weekend's last-quarter fadeout against GWS, Richmond started brightly and led by 12 points at quarter time. But the rebuilding Tigers did not kick a goal from 19 minutes in the first quarter until 22 minutes into the last - unofficially a club record. All-Australian defender Nick Blakey, derided this week by some in the media as one of the season's biggest disappointments, was outstanding with 34 disposals and eight inside 50s. Isaac Heeney starred in the midfield and James Jordon played his role to perfection as a defensive forward on in-form Richmond defender Nick Vlastuin, kicking three goals. Tigers onballer Dion Prestia was on fire in the first quarter with 13 possessions, but James Rowbottom then paid him more attention and he only had 21 for the game. Sydney ruckman Brodie Grundy also had a day out, beating Richmond captain Toby Nankervis in another crucial match-up for the Swans. The longer the game went, the more apparent was Nankervis's frustration. Coming off big losses to Melbourne - at the MCG - and Adelaide at home, the Swans were in big trouble early. Richmond had 10 of the first 12 inside 50s and it was 10-4 at quarter time, with the tackle count also a lopsided 11-6 in the Tigers' favour. But Sydney made the game a scrap at the start of the second term and Heeney kicked a goal at 13 minutes to give them the lead. The Swans led by 14 points at the main break and they kicked 10 unanswered goals until Seth Campbell put through his second late in the final term.
