The Sydney Swans say their willingness to “torpedo” their AFL season by suspending five star players proves how committed they are to upholding standards at the club.
The Swans suspended Riley Bice, Nick Blakey, Isaac Heeney, James Jordon and Chad Warner for the remainder of the 2026 AFL season over an alleged incident at a Melbourne hotel in the early hours of Monday morning.
At least four players were linked to an ongoing Victoria Police investigation into an alleged sexual assault at the Pullman Hotel, where the Swans were staying after their win over Essendon on Sunday night.
It is not suggested that any of the players are being accused of sexual assault, and Swans chairman Andrew Pridham and chief executive Matthew Pavlich has stressed the decision to ban the players is solely related to breaches of the club’s standards and expected behaviour.
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Swans team has always shown respect for women, Pridham says
On a question about whether any changes are going to be made at the club going forward, Mr Pridham says the male team has “by and large, always displayed complete respect for women”.
“I’d just highlight that this breach of our standards relates to five players. So, there are many players who this doesn’t apply to,” he said.
“However, clearly, when situations such as this emerge – and clearly, there has been a breakdown in standards – we will, in time – as a board, and as an executive team – we will review how we deal with these things going forward.”
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Club to be in a ‘better position going forward’, Pridham says
Mr Pridham has taken a question about whether he believes the Swans’ season is now “torpedoed”.
“I think you’ve always got to enter the field of play with the expectation of performing well,” he said.
He says the fact that the club is willing to ban “five of our absolute best players” from the rest of the season shows it’s “not trying to brush anything under the carpet”.
“I’m confident that, having taken this action, we’ll be in a better place going forward as a result of it,” he said.
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“Hopefully people can see how seriously we’ve taken this matter,” Prodham said.
“We’re very proud of our culture we’ve built over many years at the club. We get more right than we get wrong. Clearly this is a very sad day for us and for everybody involved.
“I know the five players involved. They’re extremely remorseful for their actions in breaching the club’s standards, and I think the sanction we’ve imposed and the impact that will have on our football season is clear for all to see.
“It’s very important to note the football outcome was not a consideration of the board.”
(Clockwise from top left) James Jordon, Riley Bice, Nick Blakey, Chad Warner and Isaac Heeney have been stood down. (ABC News/Getty Images)
The bans handed to the players, according to the club bosses, relate to their decision to continue drinking late into the night and bring women back to the hotel.
Pavlich said it fell “a long way short of what we expect of our players”, and Pridham added that their actions left the club with no choice but to impose a heavy sanction.
“They shouldn’t have been in that situation,” Pridham said.
“The only way we can deal with it is to put our foot down incredibly hard, which we’ve done. To effectively torpedo our season by making a decision such as this tells you how seriously we’re taking this.”
Swans chief executive Matthew Pavlich (left) and chairman Andrew Pridham. (Getty Images: Mark Metcalfe)
The AFL has backed the team’s sanctions and the Swans say their decision is independent of an ongoing Victoria Police investigation.
The players’ ban includes this Sunday’s home-and-away finale against North Melbourne and any finals matches the Swans will play afterwards.
Sydney’s sanctions come after the club conducted interviews with the players linked to the Melbourne incident off-site with their lawyers present. Sydney’s board met on Tuesday night to discuss club-imposed sanctions.
“The Sydney Swans condemn all forms of abuse and disrespectful behaviour towards women,” the club said in a statement on Tuesday.
“Any conduct that causes offence or harm to others is unacceptable and falls well short of our expectations. All women deserve to be respected and feel safe.”