Sydney Swans called out over brutal mistake that may have cost Isaac Heeney the Brownlow

David King has suggested Isaac Heeney and the Sydney Swans made a huge error in their argument as to why he didn't deserve a ban, while some have also claimed the club were too smug that he'd get off. Heeney is ineligible to win the Brownlow Medal after a last-ditch attempt to clear him failed on Thursday night.

The Swans took their case to the AFL appeals board after failing at the tribunal, but the board upheld the one-game suspension on Thursday night. Heeney will now miss the weekend's clash with North Melbourne after striking Jimmy Webster in the face with a backhanded swat.

The Swans appealed on three grounds, arguing the tribunal had made an error of law, that no tribunal acting reasonably could have reached the decision it did and that there was manifest excessiveness in classifying Heeney's action as intentional. But all of the Swans' arguments were dismissed at the end of a two-hour hearing.

Heeney was trying to break away from Webster with a swatting action and caught his opponent across the face, leaving him with a bloody nose. At the tribunal on Tuesday night, Heeney revealed he does the same action 50-100 times per game - and King reckons that concession might have cost him.

“I thought the fact they said he does this action multiple times in any given game is almost a concession that he’s part of the problem,” King said on Fox Footy on Thursday night. “I thought that was a bad starting point. I think they had a stinker this week the Sydney Swans."

Were the Sydney Swans too overconfident?

Scott Gullan of the Herald Sun also made startling claims that the Swans might have been too 'smug' for the tribunal and appeals board's liking. “There was a sense around the league - a few other clubs were talking about (this) - there was a sense they were a bit overconfident coming into this case, earlier in the week to the tribunal," Gullen said on Fox Footy.

“And were straight on the front foot and said we will overturn this. And Jeff Gleeson, who’s the tribunal chairman, he’s thrown the guns for the AFL several years, and you don’t poke the bear, do you? You don’t needle him. There was a sense they may have pushed too far.” Speaking before the appeals board's decision, Gullen said: “It might come back to bite them.”

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Isaac Heeney responds after suspension appeal fails

Heeney sent a message of thanks to the Swans and fans for supporting him this week. "I'm obviously extremely disappointed with that result," Heeney said in a video statement released by the club. "It's pretty shattering, to be honest.

"I can guarantee one thing - that when I'm back I'll make sure that I do this club proud, the supporters proud and my family proud. It starts this weekend. I obviously won't be on the footy field but I'll be there to support the boys and the coaching staff and the staff at the club here. Then obviously I want to flow on from that and make sure this year's a special one."

with AAP