The Sydney Swans have commenced contract negotiations with star Isaac Heeney.
Heeney, who in 2016 signed a five-year contract extension, is tipped to be one of the AFL’s biggest free agent targets in 2022.
The Swans’ fought off a lucrative offer from North Melbourne that year to keep the versatile 25-year-old, who over his seven-year career has shown his ability to play both as a midfielder and in the forward line.
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Sydney list manager Kinnear Beatson revealed that preliminary discussion are already underway to keep Heeney at the club, with the Swans anticipating rivals to come knocking.
“Our GM of footy, Charlie Gardiner, has opened up those conversations with Isaac’s manager about a contract extension,” Beatson told AFL.com.au.
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“I’m not exactly sure where that’s at, because we’ve only just got back to training [this week], but we’d be hopeful of being able to retain Isaac.
“We understand he will be one of the more highly sought-after free agents, if it got to that stage.”
Heeney to date played 129 games the Swans since making his debut in 2015.
He was recruited as a Sydney Swans Academy selection during the 2014 AFL Draft.