Isaac Heeney has won the top award at the Sydney Swans’ end of season awards, taking out the club’s ‘Most Valuable Player’ award.
Heeney, Chad Warner, Nick Blakey, James Jordon and Riley Bice were eligible for the award but did not attend the function at Sydney’s Town Hall on Thursday night.
The five players were stood down for the remainder of the 2026 season for breaching club standards following the round 23 game against Essendon in Melbourne.
No charges have been laid over the initial allegations of sexual assault at Melbourne’s Pullman Hotel on the morning of Monday August 17, and the players have denied any criminal wrongdoing.
Bice has been cleared of any criminal wrongdoing by Victoria Police and is being treated as a witness.
Victoria Police said in a statement this week: “There are no updates and the investigation is ongoing.”
On Thursday Heeney won his third consecutive Bob Skilton Medal with 431 votes ahead of Brodie Grundy (400) and Charlie Curnow (398). Warner (397) finished fourth with Blakey (339) seventh and Jordon (301) 10th.
The Swans changed the description of the Bob Skilton Medal from the traditional Best and Fairest to ‘Most Valuable Player’. The club did not run a livestream of the awards night as had been done in previous years.
In his speech at the function, Swans chairman Andrew Pridham said the players should be afforded the right to “presumption of innocence”
“Their eligibility in tonight’s count is not an endorsement of what happened,” he said.
While the suspended players did not attend, the club publicly backed their legal position, with Pridham saying they should be afforded the “presumption of innocence” despite being stood down.
“This decision reflected only on their breach of club standards and behaviour,” he said.
“At no time have we made any judgment on the allegations currently before police, as this is a separate matter.
“And as we know, the players strenuously deny the allegations.”
Last week the five players returned to Swans headquarters in Moore Park to face teammates for the first time since the club announced its decision to stand the players down for the remainder of the season.
Heeney said it was “really good” to address his teammates.
“I’m really thankful they could give us their time and understanding,” Heeney told media.
“We’ve handed out punishment, and we must begin the process now of healing,” Pridham said.
“We look forward to positively engaging with them all again soon in the period between now and the pre-season.
“We listened to a range of opinions across the club and in the football community, and I very much and genuinely mean that I respect that some people in this room and beyond may not agree with where we’ve landed tonight or where we have landed in many decisions. It has been very, very difficult.
“Let me be equally clear that these decisions to allow the players to remain eligible does not diminish our concern and respect for everyone impacted by these events. Likewise, the players involved, respect will continue to apply the basic right, presumption of innocence, and we fully support them in the application of this. As we all know, and I feel very strongly, their strong contribution to our club over many years cannot be erased and nor should it be forgotten.
“Strong clubs don’t pretend mistakes never happen; they hold people to account, they learn, and they get better. And I promise you, I promise you, that is our commitment to you.
“Adversity can break you or it can make you stronger, and my promise to you is that it will make us stronger and more united in the future.”
Originally published as Isaac Heeney wins Sydney Swans award as club changes ‘best and fairest’