Isaac Heeney is prepared to be Sydney's main man in attack while taking responsibility for exorcising the goalkicking demons of last year's AFL elimination final loss.
Heeney has enjoyed his most productive season in front of the big sticks, booting a career-high 46 goals as well as only 25 behinds on his way to a first All-Australian blazer.
Along with star forward Lance Franklin (50 goals, 26 behinds), the sharp-shooting Heeney is set to be crucial near goal when the Swans meet Melbourne in an AFL qualifying final on Friday.
The Swans are acutely aware of how decisive reliable goalkicking can be at the pointy end of the season, after misfiring late in their elimination final against GWS last year.
Heeney looked set to turn that final in the Swans' favour when he kicked two goals in as many minutes to reduce the Giants' lead to seven points early in the final term.
But after Heeney's heroics the Swans could only manage six behinds, including several from relatively simple shots, to have their season end with a finals loss by the barest of margins.
"You have to push it aside but you take the experience from the final and the game itself," Heeney told AAP about the missed chances last year.
"We did a lot right that day, we just didn't finish off our good work. That's footy sometimes.
"We've got a good variety of avenues to goal, and we've got players who are stepping up and being really effective for us in front of the sticks.
"I won't put extra pressure on myself but I'm ready to take on the responsibility for the occasion."
Heeney's much-anticipated move into a regular midfield role looks less likely as his impact near goal grows, but the 26-year-old refuses to concede he is set to be primarily a forward far into the future.
"I keep digging myself a hole there. I'd love to go into the midfield but at the same time I love kicking goals," Heeney said.
"Horse (John Longmire) gives me a bit of free rein because as a forward it can dry up at times.
"If that happens, I can sneak into the midfield and run around the footy then head back to the forward line."
It is little coincidence that Heeney was named in the All-Australian team after playing every home and away match for just the second time in eight seasons.
Heeney has endured a string of injuries throughout his career, most seriously an ankle dislocation in 2020 that he said "feels amazing" now.
"The All-Australian award was extremely exciting and it was really nice to do it with Callum Mills, a fellow Swans Academy prospect," Heeney said.
"The fact that I've had a clean run at it has really helped. It was the first proper pre-season I've ever had and to be selected in the All-Australian team was icing on the cake."
