1 week Ago By Aaron Kirby
If you asked Isaac Heeney who he thought his mum would shout out on social media in the wake of the Swans’ stunning come-from-behind finals triumph on Saturday, there’s Buckley’s chance he would have said a Giants defender. But that’s exactly what she did as she thanked Jack Buckley for helping her son avoid hitting his head on the SCG turf after his extraordinary screamer on his head. Heeney led the Swans to a famous victory over Greater Western Sydney, overcoming a 21-point deficit at three-quarter time to book a home preliminary final as well as give Sydney their first finals victory over their cross-town rivals.
It was also the first time Giants coach Adam Kingsley’s side had been beaten after leading at the final change, having been 23-0 before the qualifying final. Heeney’s herculean stat line included three goals, 30 disposals, seven clearances, five tackles and 383 metres gained. However, it was his high-flying antics that had the footy world in awe.
Inside the first minute of the second half, with his side needing a spark, Heeney launched himself into the stratosphere to pull down a huge Callum Mills dump kick, relegating Buckley to the role of step ladder. He got so high he lost control of his landing, but thankfully a helping hand from the Giants defender allowed Heeney to land on his back, merely winded rather than concussed had he landed on his skull. And his mother, Rochelle, was quick to thank Buckley on X, formerly known as Twitter.
“As his mum, I would love to give Jack Buckley a hug and thank him for Isaac not landing on his head!!!” she wrote. Buckley played a strong game of his own but was helpless as Heeney, Chad Warner, and Tom Papley played super-human last quarters to get the home side over the line by six points in front of a frothing SCG crowd. Heeney and the Swans will now get a fortnight’s rest ahead of the preliminary finals, while the Giants must face Brisbane at Engie Stadium on Saturday in the first semifinal.
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