The midfielder for the Swans, Isaac Heeney, won the Carey-Bunton award as the best NSW player in the 2004 AFL thanks to his stellar comeback and ten coaches’ votes.With two rounds remaining, Heeney has 102 votes, an overwhelming 24 votes ahead of Sydney colleague Errol Gulden, the winner from the previous year.Heeney’s incredible final quarter helped the Swans overcome Collingwood by three points, after they had fallen behind by almost five goals halfway through the season. This turned around the Swans’ struggling campaign, kept them atop the standings, and signalled a return to the kind of play that had made the Hunter boy a Brownlow favourite halfway through the season.

After round 10, he had a 37-vote lead over the Carey-Bunton, but over the next few months, Gulden gradually closed the gap, and by round 21, he was only 14 votes behind.”There is a lot of talent in NSW, therefore it’s critical to recognise it. It’s just evidence of that, to have my name listed with Tom Hawkins, Errol Gulden, Callum Mills, and Jacob Hopper, to mention a few,” Heeney remarked.It’s undoubtedly a great honour. Although we don’t play football for individual prizes, it’s good to have our hard effort recognised.”We have some difficult football left to play, but I’ve personally enjoyed playing some solid football this year.”As voting for the final two rounds takes place behind closed doors, Heeney also reclaimed his lead in the Coaches’ Association award, behind only Nick Daicos of Collingwood and Caleb Serong of Fremantle by three votes.Heeney wasn’t the only New South Walesman to score a perfect ten last week; James Peatling, a midfielder for GWS via Pennant Hills, carried on his recent winning streak to reach 16 votes.

Shaun Mannagh of Albury is also having a great season; in Geelong’s victory over Fremantle, he scored two more goals to extend his tally of eight goals for the year.With 29 goals, Heeney is still four goals ahead of Adelaide’s huge Broken Hill forward Taylor Walker in the Bill Mohr medal competition for the top goalkicker in New South Wales. Heeney can win both events, but he will need to knock out Walker in the last two rounds with a few full bags.

GET MORE NEWS HERE