ISAAC Heeney says he is "truly sorry" for his role in the scandal that engulfed Sydney last month, saying he is determined to re-join his teammates ahead of next season.
In his first significant public comment since the Swans scandal broke, Heeney labelled his time away from the club "heartbreaking", adding he has thought about "what could have been" every day since.
>> READ ISAAC HEENEY'S FULL SPEECH BELOW
The 30-year-old was not present at the Swans' awards night on Thursday, when he was named the club's best player for the third year in a row.
One of five Swans players banned in August for breaching club standards, Heeney used a video message to accept his award and apologise for his role in the scandal.
"When I was told about this honour, it was the first time I smiled and felt positive about the future in a long time," he said.
"I want to say to everyone — in particular my teammates, the Swans players, the AFLW, and the staff — from the depths of my heart, I'm truly sorry for putting you through the extreme difficulty you've had to endure, as it's had a huge impact on our club.
"Every single day I was away from the club was heartbreaking, knowing that I couldn't make a contribution. Every single day, I think about what could have been."
Heeney praised his teammates for their "incredible fight" as they reached a preliminary final, and said he is looking forward to training with them again ahead of the 2027 season.
"I'm incredibly excited about what this group can do. I can't wait to get back to training with the boys, get better, and tackle next year together."
Heeney's emotional message came after Swans chair Andrew Pridham reflected on the decision to ban the five players amid the ongoing police investigation, which is seperate to the club-imposed sanctions.
Isaac Heeney's full speech
"Right now, I'd like to thank the whole club once again - all the players, the staff, the board, our great fans, and sponsors.
"When I was told about this honour, it was the first time I smiled and felt positive about the future in a long time. While I wasn't able to attend the awards tonight, I look forward to saying more in person very soon.
My whole life is centred around my two families. My family in Newcastle — my mum, dad, brother, and Stephanie — have always been an incredible support, particularly recently. I love you and thank you.
"And my other family, which I've been a part of since I was 12 years old: the Sydney Swans family. A family I also love and cherish being a part of.
"I want to say to everyone — in particular my teammates, the Swans players, the AFLW, and the staff — from the depths of my heart, I'm truly sorry for putting you through the extreme difficulty you've had to endure, as it's had a huge impact on our club.
"Every single day I was away from the club was heartbreaking, knowing that I couldn't make a contribution. Every single day, I think about what could have been.
"To my teammates, a huge thank you. Your incredible fight at the end of the season was inspiring. I was so proud of you all, and gutted I wasn't there. Your commitment to success is why I love playing alongside you and being part of this group.
"To Coxy, the coaches, and every single member of the staff involved in our program: thank you for everything you do. The time, care, and effort you put into us as players and as people is incredible. I am extremely grateful for your support.
"Finally, I just wanted to say how incredibly honoured I am to receive this award. It's named after the legendary Swan, Bob Skilton, and has been won by so many past greats of the club, including Paul Kelly, a hero of mine growing up. It reminded me of my great love of playing football for the Sydney Swans — a club which has given me so much throughout my career. I want my actions moving forward to show how much this place and these people mean to me.
"I'm incredibly excited about what this group can do. I can't wait to get back to training with the boys, get better, and tackle next year together.
"To all the other award winners, congratulations on your fantastic achievements. You should be extremely proud, as I'm sure you are."