Sydney coach John Longmire won't lock Isaac Heeney into a midfield role for the entire AFL season despite the versatile star's scintillating start to the campaign.
Heeney could very well have six Brownlow Medal votes to his name after two games, having lit up impressive wins over premiership contenders Melbourne and Collingwood.
The 27-year-old had 29 touches, four clearances and two goals in a comprehensive 15.12 (102) to 10.9 (69) victory over the Magpies at the MCG on Friday night.
Heeney has spent plenty of time forward in recent years but has been asked to push into the midfield early this season to cover the loss of injured trio Callum Mills, Luke Parker and Taylor Adams.
"It's worked for the last couple of weeks. It's been super, he's been terrific, no question," Longmire said.
"He's been really important when we've had so much experience out of that team and if you look at our midfield group tonight, he's clearly the older one there and he's only 27.
"But we'll play him where we need him. We're two games in and if we need him forward we'll play him forward.
"Wherever he plays he's quality, so I'm not too worried about that."
An All-Australian half-forward in 2022, the 179-game Heeney has set a standard for his younger teammates to follow.
"He's good for our team because he works so hard ... he's hard and tough and then he just runs," Longmire said.
"He's got an amazing engine on him and his ability now to be able to make decisions in the game and put himself forward or midfield when he needs to has been probably the terrific thing we've seen over the pre-season with him.
"He's always been fit but he's just got more confidence now to put himself in and out of what he needs to do and he's doing that really well now. He's sensing the moments."
Heeney may have to split early Brownlow votes with Chad Warner, who had 27 disposals, seven clearances and an equal career-best three goals against Collingwood.
Warner was one of a handful of Swans midfielders under the age of 23 who took the fight up to the Magpies' premiership midfield alongside Heeney.
