Swans coach backs Heeney, Grundy for All-Australian selection
The Sydney Swans will miss the finals after making last season's grand final but should have at least two All-Australians, according to coach Dean Cox.
He's declared superstar Isaac Heeney's season has been 'as good a year' as any contenders, with ruckman Brodie Grundy also vying for a blazer, but the first-year coach knows his team hasn't won enough games to have many Swans players spoken about.
But amid the 'frustration and disappointment' at failing to back up last season's effort, Cox was adamant Heeney, who has kicked 35 goals, including five against reigning premiers Brisbane last week in a revenge win, had been a shining light and deserved recognition with a third All-Australian nod.
'I've looked at stats of players that are being talked about in the All-Australian team and All-Australian captains, Isaac's had as good a year as all of them,' Cox said.
'Unfortunately, we haven't won enough games for a specific player to be spoken about. He's been phenomenal for our footy club. Not many players can do what he does in the midfield and then go forward and turn a game as well.
Isaac Heeney has been in All-Australian form. Picture: Russell Freeman/AFL Photos via Getty Images
'I think the entire AFL industry admires what Isaac can do on a football field, but as soon as you're not in the top couple of teams, you don't get spoken about as frequently.
'That doesn't mean that he hasn't had the year he had last year.'
Grundy, who has been sidelined with concussion, has been a powerhouse in the ruck this season and is vying with Melbourne captain Max Gawn for the starting ruck spot in the team of the year.
He could also earn a place on the bench, with a club best and fairest award also in his sights.
Cox said his team not playing finals had started to sink in with the coaches and players, but a strong finish to the season, backing up the last-start win over the Lions against premiership contenders Geelong this weekend, would bring some momentum for 2026.
'There's a bit of frustration and disappointment that we're not playing finals. That's what we start every year chasing and the reality is we can't do that. Once we found that out it was deflating, it's what the players strive so hard to get to,' Cox said.
'We'll reflect when the season finishes why we didn't get there. There are a number of things we need to work on. We needed to work on them in the back half of the year but also the pre-season as well.'
Originally published as Sydney coach Dean Cox says Isaac Heeney deserves All-Australian selection despite poor Swans campaign
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BRISBANE Played: 22, Won: 15, Drawn: 1, Lost: 6, Percentage: 114.3 RUN HOME R24: Hawthorn, Gabba (Sunday night) Brisbane has secured its immediate future with a win over Fremantle – the Lions will play finals. A win over Hawthorn in round 24 could see them edge inside the top four, which is a huge result given the injury woes in recent weeks. Losing to Hawthorn would result in a home elimination final; potentially even against Hawthorn. Best Case Scenario: 1st Win against Hawks AND Crows lose to Magpies and Kangaroos AND Cats lose to Swans and Tigers AND Magpies lose to Demons Worst Case Scenario: 8th Lose against Hawks AND Giants beat Saints AND Dockers beat Bulldogs Expected Finish: 4th Locked up a finals appearance with a dominant win over Fremantle on Friday. Now a lot relies on the win over Hawthorn next Sunday. We're still on Jeremy Cameron 100 watch. Picture: Getty Images 3. 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They can still make the eight without winning next week, but it would take a whole lot of luck. Best Case Scenario: 4th Win against Bulldogs AND Cats lose to both Swans and Tigers AND Magpies lose to both Crows and Demons AND Lions beat Hawks Worst Case Scenario: 9th Lose to Bulldogs and have expected winners from other matches Expected Finish: 9th Lose to Bulldogs and have expected winners from other matches The Dockers' destiny is still in their hands - win and they're in. But lose and they miss out. A true Round 24 elimination final. The Suns are on the verge of their first finals campaign. Picture:8. GOLD COAST Played: 21, Won: 14, Lost: 7, Percentage: 121.2 RUN HOME R24: Port Adelaide, AO (Friday night) R24: Essendon, PFS (Wednesday night) Could the loss at home against the Giants be the moment in history we look back at? Surely the Suns don't miss finals from here, but the pressure is on to hold onto a double chance. 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Best Case Scenario: 4th Win both games AND have Giants lose to Saints AND have Suns lose to either Power or Bombers Worst Case Scenario: 9th Lose to Dockers Expected Finish: 7th Win both games and have the expected winners from other matches would lead to a 6th-place finish. The Bulldogs won't miss finals if they win their final two games, and would need results to go their way if they were to drop one of the two clashes. Round 24 v Fremantle could be an elimination final. Originally published as AFL live ladder: Who will finish in the top eight, miss the finals
