Isaac Heeney wasted no time making a statement in his return from injury, dominating the field for the Swans in their 24.19 (163) to 4.11 (35) win over the West Coast Eagles.
Just hours after Maurice Rioli pushed his case to be a considered for mark of the year, Heeney delivered his own stellar display to become another contender for the award.
The Swans midfielder had not taken to the field since round one due to a hamstring injury, but that was not an issue come time to teach Harley Reid a lesson on Saturday.
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Heeney used the back of the young Eagles star to leverage himself into the air, leaving commentators stunned by the act the Swans gun had just produced.
Isaac Heeney’s hanger on Harley Reid. Fox Footy
The 29-year-old had a smile on his face as he dragged the ball to the ground, while his foot remained locked in between the arms of Reid.
“He knew he was done in flight, Reid,” Richmond great Jack Riewoldt said on Fox Footy.
“‘He knew, ‘I really don’t want to do this, he is going to sit on my head’.”
Heeney did not slow down from there on out, recording 18 disposals and two goals by half time. At the end of the third term, he had four goals from 23 touches.
“He has been the best player on the field so far,” Riewoldt said.
“He is about three classes above anyone else on the field right now,” David King added.
Isaac Heeney celebrates a goal. Getty
While Heeney continued to earn elevated praise for the remainder of the match, Reid found himself at the opposite end of commentary as he struggled to make an impact.
There was several moments that the 20-year-old was flamed by greats of the game for during the match, including his gifts of a 50m penalty and free kick to the Swans.
Late in the match, Reid’s tempers boiled over as he became entangled in a heated exchange with Angus Sheldrick, who had elbowed a West Coast teammate in the head.
King was initially critical of Reid’s outburst, declaring “at some stage the coach has to remove the player from the ground” and that there “has to be a punishment”.
He then changed his tone as a replay of the incident was shown on Fox Footy.
“This is not good from Sheldrick,” he said.
Harley Reid was also caught in an earlier wrestle with Justin McInerney. Getty
“I love Harley Reid, I think he’s going to be an outstanding player and I love the desire and the want to be aggressive and confrontational.
“Clearly there was a bit more to that than what we captured there. You’ve still got to have emotional control.
“I think it is a challenge for him at this stage of his career. You have got to be better.”
Despite the criticism, Reid did manage to record 17 disposals for the match. However, he only managed to secure one mark and made zero tackles in that time, also.
Swans coach Dean Cox made the call to rest Heeney in the final stages of the fourth quarter, ending the game with four goals and 26 disposals.
New recruit Charlie Curnow showed he has found his feet, scoring four goals.
The Swans will host the Gold Coast Suns on Saturday, April 11.