Three hits of GF heartbreak still driving Swans star

Three doses of AFL grand final heartbreak continue to get Isaac Heeney out of bed and working on a plan to make Sydney's club culture world-renowned.

Across the entire AFL, there are only two active players to have made more grand final appearances than Heeney without tasting premiership glory; Swans teammates Dane Rampe and Jake Lloyd also featured in the 2014 loss before Heeney's senior debut.

Since then, the trio played when Sydney fell victim to Western Bulldogs' Cinderella story in 2016 and they were humiliated by Geelong and Brisbane in the 2022 and 2024 deciders, respectively.

But for newly-minted vice-captain Heeney, the pain is as real as ever, almost 18 months since the most recent grand-final loss.

"That's what really gets me out of bed these days," he said.

"I'm 0-3 in grand finals. It's something that's a tough one. I look at it in a way that, gee, I'm extremely lucky to be at an amazing club, to be so successful.

"But the reason we play is to win premierships. To get so close and be so far away at the same time is something that definitely drives me."

Plenty has changed since the most recent heartbreak, with the Swans installing John Longmire's right-hand man Dean Cox as senior coach last season.

After a 10th-placed finish in 2025, the Swans have hired ex-players Nick Malceski and Jeremy Laidler as assistants to Cox.

Premiership-winning coach Simon Goodwin and Fremantle legend Matthew Pavlich are new additions to the front office as director of coaching and chief executive, respectively.

On the field, Charlie Curnow looms as the Swans' most significant signing since Buddy Franklin, with the potential to bring similar firepower up forward.

"We've got a lot of work to do to get back into the eight and hopefully push this year. We've got the squad to do it," Heeney said.

Heeney feels the reinstatement of Sydney's "Bloods culture", the long-time hard-working ethos of the heavyweight Swans, is another change brewing.

"The proof's got to be in the pudding but we've done a lot of work," he said.

"We want it to be one of the best cultures in Australia. We want it to be known outside Australia, too.

"We're doing everything we can to make that Bloods culture the best culture in the world. Hopefully it's back but the proof will be in the pudding."

The Swans believe on-baller Taylor Adams has recovered mentally after being hospitalised following a violent incident outside a Sydney pub last month.

Adams has resumed running amid his recovery from an achilles tendon injury.

"It was a nasty incident. We did support Taylor as best as we could through that incident," Pavlich said of the altercation.

"Mentally, he's in good shape. Obviously it rocked him when it happened. He's worked his way through that."