Sydney forward Isaac Heeney says he has come back from the bye refreshed and ready to recapture the stellar early season form that made his partnership with Lance Franklin one of the most feared in the competition.
After starting the season with a bang, the goals have dried up for the Swans' youngster as the effects of an unforgiving season started taking its toll.
Heeney has booted two goals in the past five games during which Sydney's scoring has also dropped off. Since round 10 the Swans have averaged 79.8 points a game, well down on their average of 105 from their first nine matches, though playing twice in torrential downpours has not helped.
The Swans have still claimed decent scalps during this period but their forwards will be under more pressure in the coming weeks against likely finalists the Western Bulldogs, Geelong and Hawthorn, particularly with Kurt Tippett unavailable. An improvement from Heeney will be crucial if the Swans are to find avenues to goal other than through the dependable Franklin.
Having not missed a game, a considerable feat for second-year player, Heeney believes the break came just at the right point. This is the first time Heeney has had to deal with pushing through the mid-season grind after missing much of last year with injury.
"It's just knowing every week you're not 100 per cent, some weeks you're only 70, 80 per cent, plus you might be fighting a cold and it takes longer to get over," Heeney said.
"The biggest thing for younger guys is to be honest with the physio if you have a niggle; you need to get it right, you can't push through it.
"Going into games week in week out not 100 per cent takes a toll.
"To play 12 or 13 games is pretty gruelling. We've put in a lot of tackles, bumps and bruises, not just physically and mentally. I had to go home to freshen up."
Although his tackling has gone up another level, as highlighted by his hauls of 12 and 13 in the wet against Gold Coast and Melbourne respectively, Heeney said tiredness had played a part in his goals drying up.
"I believe so, mentally it was full on," Heeney said. "The last few weeks I haven't been as offensive whereas my defence has been really good. I've been knowing if I can't have a massive influence offensively I can be playing a role defensively."
In an encouraging sign for Swans fans, Heeney says he has come back from his week off "a lot more mentally focused".
"My body feels well rested. I can come back and be flying like the start of year and kick goals and take some grabs," Heeney said.
Rival clubs are starting to pay more respect to the versatile Heeney, as reflected by North Melbourne pushing gun backman Scott Thompson to him.
"I take it as a compliment, even though he got the better of me," Heeney said. "Normally he'd be taking the best or second best forward."
Heeney, who is destined for a lengthy career as a midfielder, said Franklin had been important in teaching him the ropes of forward line play.
"We'll go up to Bud and say 'where do you want me, what you want me to do?' He's really good at directing," Heeney said.
"He leads by example, you see what he does, he's a freak of nature. It's looking at him and taking bits out of his game and adapting them to mine."
