 Beginning his career with the Melbourne Football Club in 1979, Healy played mostly in a forward pocket role in attack before switching to an on-baller/midfielder role and establishing himself as one of the premier ball winners in the competition.He won Melbourne's best and fairest award in 1984.He left the Demons in 1985, after playing 121 games, moving to the Sydney Swans at the beginning of the 1986 season.