A few years ago Isaac Heeney was sitting in the library of a Maitland high school listening to Sydney Swans players talking about the AFL.
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On Tuesday he returned to the school in his red and white uniform alongside one of the code’s greats, Adam Goodes.
The 18-year-old from Stockrington has been enjoying life as a professional footballer during summer after being picked up the Swans and becoming Maitland’s first AFL draft pick.
And as he made his way around the familiar hallways of All Saints College, St Peter’s Campus, Maitland, greeted by his old teachers, Heeney was living the dream.
“Three years ago I was sitting in the library listening to two other [Swans] players. I think one was AJ [Alex Johnson] and the other was Birdy [Craig Bird],” he said.
“I remember thinking wow, imagine if I could do that one day.
“And now, here I am, with Adam Goodes, what else could you want.”
Goodes is one of AFL’s most decorated players – a two-time premiership winner, two-time Brownlow Medallist and 2014 Australian of the Year.
And he was well received by students and teachers alike yesterday as the Swans pair made their way around to St Peter’s, St Joseph’s at Lochinvar, Rutherford and Maitland primary and Maitland Christian schools.
This followed a training session with the Hunter Academy of Sport squad on Monday night, all part of the Swans’ annual community camps.
Heeney said he was chuffed to bring Goodes home to the Hunter, which is more renowned for rugby league than Australian rules.
“It’s great to be back home in Newcastle and Maitland, and to bring such a legend like Goodesy,” Heeney said.
“He is at the complete different end of the spectrum to me. Goodesy has played 351 games, won two Brownlows and won two premierships, whereas I haven’t played a game yet after only getting drafted last year.
“It’s good to bring someone like that here and show them how I’ve grown up and show him how rugby league -dominated [Maitland] is, but also how much AFL is growing here in Newcastle and Maitland.”
The Swans junior academy product said it was a proud moment to be a Maitland boy named in last year’s draft and he remained hopeful it would help pave the way for more players in the future.
“It makes me pretty proud, to be from Maitland and be the first,” Heeney said.
“Now spending time with some quality footballers, learning as much as I can and hopefully putting Newcastle on the AFL map.
“I want to promote it more down here and hopefully it can keep increasing and become a strong AFL state.”
Heeney said pre-season had been tough, but he hoped to crack the senior side for the Swans in 2015, even if it was only for a game or two throughout the year.
He said his ultimate goal “would be to have a career like Goodsey”.
