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Coach defends Heeney flip

April 6, 2020 4:35 pm in by
Sydney star Isaac Heeney in action in 2019. (Sports Media Image/Marcel Berens)

SYDNEY coach John Longmire has defended AFL star Isaac Heeney in response to criticism of his isolation behaviour, saying now is the time to take a breath and hold back on strong opinions.

Heeney has headed back to his family farm near Newcastle, NSW, during the league’s COVID-19 shutdown.

After footage subsequently emerged of Heeney wakeboarding and backflipping into a dam, former Port Adelaide midfielder Kane Cornes was forthright in his criticism of the young gun, saying he could not “get over the stupidity”.

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AFL legend Jason Dunstall and NRL great Mark Geyer were among those to come to Heeney’s defence, with Geyer saying “it’s a dark day in the world when we bag a bloke for having a bit of fun as a pandemic takes over the world … you (Cornes) are stupid.”

Longmire offered a more measured take on Monday, arguing everybody should focus on more important matters during the health crisis.

“We’ve just got to hold back a bit at this time with the really strong opinions,” Longmire said on SEN.

“I don’t know what you guys were doing in your early 20s, but I bet you it wasn’t self-isolation.

“We’ve just got to take a deep breath. I’m pretty confident Isaac knows where the line is, he grew up on that farm.”

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Heeney, who recovered from a broken thumb to play a leading role in the Swans’ season-opening upset win over Adelaide, has quickly become a fan favourite at the SCG.

The 23-year-old defended himself in an interview with the Nine Network.

“I’ve got enough experience and I know when I’m putting myself in danger and at that point in time I didn’t feel like I was,” he said.

“I was having some fun. Coming back here and the (best thing) for my mental health is to have a bit of fun with my family.”

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