Isaac Heeney Shines for the Swans as West Coast and Harley Reid Falter

Isaac Heeney made an immediate impact upon his return from injury, showcasing his prowess on the field as the Swans triumphed over the West Coast Eagles with a dominant score of 24.19 (163) to 4.11 (35).

Just hours after Maurice Rioli made his case for mark of the year, Heeney delivered his own stunning performance, positioning himself as a strong contender for the honour.

Having not played since round one due to a hamstring injury, Heeney showed no signs of hesitation as he took centre stage against Harley Reid on Saturday.

Utilising the back of the young Eagles star, Heeney launched himself into the air, leaving commentators in disbelief at the aerial feat he had just pulled off.

With a grin on his face, the 29-year-old brought the ball down, his foot caught between Reid’s arms.

“Reid knew he was in trouble,” remarked Richmond legend Jack Riewoldt on Fox Footy.

“He realised, ‘I really don’t want to do this; he’s going to sit on my head’.”

Heeney continued his dominant performance, racking up 18 disposals and two goals by half-time, and finishing the third quarter with four goals and 23 touches.

“He’s been the best player on the field thus far,” said Riewoldt.

“He’s operating at a level above everyone else out there right now,” added David King.

While Heeney basked in praise throughout the match, Reid found himself under scrutiny as he struggled to make a meaningful impact.

The 20-year-old faced criticism from commentators, particularly for conceding a 50m penalty and a free kick to the Swans.

In a heated moment towards the end of the match, Reid became embroiled in a confrontation with Angus Sheldrick, who had previously elbowed a West Coast teammate.

Initially, King called for Reid to be benched, stating that “at some point, the coach has to take that player off the field” and that “there must be consequences”.

However, when a replay of the incident aired, he altered his stance, remarking, “This is not good from Sheldrick.”

“I have a lot of faith in Harley Reid; he has the makings of an exceptional player, and I admire his passion and confrontational style,” King remarked.

“It’s evident that there was more to the situation than what was initially observed. However, maintaining emotional control is essential.”

“This will be a pivotal learning point for him early in his career. Improvement is necessary.”

Despite facing criticism, Reid amassed 17 disposals throughout the match but only succeeded in taking one mark and did not register any tackles.

Swans coach Dean Cox decided to rest Heeney in the closing stages of the fourth quarter, leaving the game with an impressive tally of four goals and 26 disposals.

New recruit Charlie Curnow also showcased his skills, adding four goals to the scoreboard.

The Swans are set to host the Gold Coast Suns on Saturday, April 11.