Maitland’s Sydney Swans star Isaac Heeney has been named to play in the new look AFLX competition.
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Team Flyer skipper Nate Fyfe selected Heeney in his side which will play in the four team competition at Marvel Stadium on Friday, February 22.
AFLX is an eight-man format of AFL and the four teams have players from across the various AFL clubs in their 12-man squads.
The other three teams are captained by Jack Riewoldt (Rampage), Eddie Betts (Deadly) and Patrick Dangerfield (Bolt).
It’s an exciting time for Heeney, 22, who is enjoying his first full summer on the track.
"It will definitely improve the way I run out games, I think, and I think I'll be able to play at a higher intensity for longer periods," he told AFL.com.au.
“I'm not necessarily looking at spending more time out on the ground – it's about impact. I want to have more impact playing as an inside midfielder and also when I go forward.”
"If I'm forward I can't just be there resting, I've got to make sure I'm having an influence and hitting the scoreboard, so that's the goal this year."
Heeney averaged 20.4 disposals in 22 games last season, sand kicked 19 goals, but while he expects to spend more time as a midfielder in 2019, he's not solely focused on racking up more numbers.
"Everybody wants to increase the amount of footy they're getting, but I think it's more about increasing my efficiency when I do get it," he said.
"You can really open up a game these days even with a limited number of possessions."
In December Heeney was elevated into the eight-man Swans leadership team with fellow youngsters Callum Mills and Tom Papley.