Sydney’s AFLW team has won its game at the SCG, as some fans threatened to walk out before the start of the later men’s game in protest over the scandal that has engulfed the club.
Five men’s team players — Isaac Heeney, Nick Blakey, Chad Warner, Riley Bice and James Jordon — have been stood down for breaching team standards.
Several fans outside the SCG said they were torn about whether to walk out before the men’s game, while others said they hoped today’s games would be a chance to unify the club. One fan had his banner removed by security, while it was confirmed the 14,000 through the gate for the AFLW was a new record for a Swans game.
In Sunday’s other AFL games, Essendon hosts Port Adelaide from 12:20pm in a game that will decide if the Bombers finish on the bottom of the ladder, while Hawthorn travels to Perth to face the West Coast Eagles at 7:20pm, with a top four spot on the line for the Hawks.
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Sun 23 Aug 2026 at 12:20pmSun 23 Aug 2026 at 12:20pmAFL scoreboardSun 23 Aug 2026 at 2:24pmSun 23 Aug 2026 at 2:24pmFT: Sydney 9.12 (66) defeats Essendon 6.6 (42)Sun 23 Aug 2026 at 2:23pmSun 23 Aug 2026 at 2:23pmThe final attendance confirms record-breaking day
Sun 23 Aug 2026 at 2:24pmSun 23 Aug 2026 at 2:24pmFT: Sydney 9.12 (66) defeats Essendon 6.6 (42)
Sun 23 Aug 2026 at 2:23pmSun 23 Aug 2026 at 2:23pmThe final attendance confirms record-breaking dayA massive cheer goes up around the SCG as the final attendance for this match is confirmed at 16,672.
That is an outstanding turnout for the Swans. It is more than double the previous club record of 8,264.
Absolutely incredible scenes.
Sun 23 Aug 2026 at 2:21pmSun 23 Aug 2026 at 2:21pm
Alexander has three goals for the Bombers
Essendon may go down in this AFLW clash, but Sophie Alexander can hold her head high.
The Dons veteran has kicked three goals now, including one here in the final term.
SYD 8.12 (60) – ESS 6.6 (42)
Sun 23 Aug 2026 at 2:19pmSun 23 Aug 2026 at 2:19pm3QT: Essendon 9.9 (63) leads Port Adelaide 9.8 (62)
Essendon and Port Adelaide’s clash is going down to the wire at Docklands. (Getty Images)
We’ve got an absolute thriller on deck at Docklands as the Dons take a lead into the final term.
Essendon played one of its best quarters of the season, kicking 4.1 to Port’s 1.2 for the quarter.
Nate Caddy leads the way for the Dons with 5.0 and looks like jumping out of the gym in every single marking contest.
Zach Merrett remains the leading ball-winner on the ground with 26 touches, while Zach Reid has been a colossus down back with 18 touches and 10 marks.
Jase Burgoyne’s 25 touches leading the way for Port heading into the last quarter.
Sun 23 Aug 2026 at 2:14pmSun 23 Aug 2026 at 2:14pm
McCarthy hammers one home from inside goalsquare
I think this might be game at the SCG folks!
Sofia Hurley with the goal assist as she has a snap on goal and Paris McCarthy takes the mark in the square, before playing on and kicking her first of the day.
Sydney out to a 24-point lead with 7:31 left in the match.
SYD 8.12 (60) – ESS 5.6 (36)
Sun 23 Aug 2026 at 2:06pmSun 23 Aug 2026 at 2:06pm
Gardiner strikes 34 seconds into final term
The Swans with all the momentum now!
Laura Gardiner hammers home her first goal of the afternoon after two behinds just 34 seconds into the last quarter.
Sydney now with a 17-point lead. They’ve got 18 scoring shots to Essendon’s 11.
It feels like this game has been a slow and steady avalanche.
SYD 7.11 (53) – ESS 5.6 (36)
Sun 23 Aug 2026 at 2:01pmSun 23 Aug 2026 at 2:01pm3QT: Sydney 6.11 (47) leads Essendon 5.6 (36)
Chloe Molloy kicked one of Sydney’s four goals in the third quarter. (Getty Images)
A tremendous third quarter from the Swans sees them take an 11-point lead into the final change.
Sydney exploded to life in that quarter, kicking 4.4 to Essendon’s 2.3 to take charge.
Essendon’s Maddie Prespakis is still the leading ball-winner on the ground with 26 touches, while Sydney’s Zippy Fish isn’t too far behind with 23 of her own.
The Swans are narrowly edging the inside 50 count 29-27 and still have a healthy 23-14 lead in the clearances.
The pressure has been absolutely suffocating so far, and it’s what led to that third-quarter burst.
What do the Dons have in their locker for the last quarter?
It’s going to be hard to overturn this deficit with this crowd getting up and about now.
There have been a couple of emotional goal celebrations as well from the Swans players after goals.
Chloe Molloy made a ‘W’ sign with her hands after kicking a goal, while Taylor Smith tugged at her AFLW jersey after one of her majors.
Sun 23 Aug 2026 at 1:57pmSun 23 Aug 2026 at 1:57pmThe Swans have officially smashed their AFLW attendance record
The crowd has been growing all throughout the afternoon and the attendance is confirmed now.
There are over 14,000 fans in attendance at the SCG, smashing the previous Swans W attendance record of 8,264.
Outstanding stuff!
Sun 23 Aug 2026 at 1:54pmSun 23 Aug 2026 at 1:54pm
Alexander ends Sydney’s run of goals
Sophie Alexander drills a set shot for her second of the afternoon and it’s a much-needed goal for the Dons.
Good ball movement from the Bombers as they went through the middle of the ground to find Alexander out the back of the Swans defence.
That ends a run of four straight goals for Sydney.
SYD 6.9 (45) – ESS 5.5 (35)
Sun 23 Aug 2026 at 1:52pmSun 23 Aug 2026 at 1:52pm
Smith strikes after Dons give away free kick
Taylor Smith has her second goal of the day after winning a free kick in a forward 50 ruck contest.
The Swans have kicked the last four goals of this match and are now well in control.
Sydney’s pressure and intensity has been incredible so far, and it’s only getting better by the minute.
The Swans have laid 54 tackles to the Bombers’ 31, including seven in their forward 50.
Sun 23 Aug 2026 at 1:48pmSun 23 Aug 2026 at 1:48pm
Hurley with the tremendous finish on the banana!
What a goal this is from Sofia Hurley!
Excellent stuff from Holly Cooper as she smothers an attempted kick-in from the Dons, and Hurley picks up the loose ball and bends it home on the outside of the right boot.
The Swans have kicked into gear in this quarter, and the crowd is abuzz. They’ve kicked 3.1 to Essendon’s 1.2 for the quarter.
Hurley has 16 disposals and eight tackles for the afternoon and is currently the top-ranked player on the ground.
SYD 5.8 (38) – ESS 4.5 (29)
Sun 23 Aug 2026 at 1:41pmSun 23 Aug 2026 at 1:41pm
Molloy strikes as Swans retake lead over Dons
Chloe Molloy with a brilliant finish on the run after scooping up a ground ball inside 50.
The Swans have kicked two goals in a matter of minutes through Molloy and Taylor Smith, after Bonnie Toogood got the Dons up and running.
SYD 4.7 (31) – ESS 4.4 (28)
Sun 23 Aug 2026 at 1:39pmSun 23 Aug 2026 at 1:39pmHT: Port Adelaide 8.6 (54) leads Essendon 5.8 (38)
Jase Burgoyne was Port’s equal-leading ball-winner on the ground in the first half. (Getty Images)
It’s been a good half of footy at Docklands as Port takes a 16-point lead into the main break.
Much more fluent footy from Port in that quarter, kicking 5.3 to Essendon’s 3.3 for the quarter.
It’s been a real clash of the big key forwards at either end of the ground.
Nate Caddy has 4.0 for the Dons, while Mitch Georgiades has 3.1 for Port.
Zach Merrett leads all players with 21 disposals, while Jase Burgoyne and Ollie Wines have 17 touches apiece for Port.
The Dons lead the clearance count 19-15, and the inside 50 count 27-24.
Sun 23 Aug 2026 at 1:35pmSun 23 Aug 2026 at 1:35pmOne Swans fan says he won’t be walking out despite disappointment
Godfrey is a 66-year-old Swans fan from the Northern Beaches area in NSW.
While some of those in the stands will leave the SCG after the AFLW match, Godfrey says he won’t be one of them.
“I’m here for the girls’ team, firstly, and I’m here for the 20 odd guys in the other team that have busted their butts all year together,” he said.
Godfrey says he won’t be walking out on the men’s team. (ABC News)
“I was disappointed. I was upset what went on. But as I say, there were a number of other guys that are still in my team that I still support.”
“I’ve never walked out on that team. I’ve got lots of teams of different sports amount in the world. I’ve always stayed till the end.”
So how does he feel the club’s culture might change after this week’s events?
“Oh, I hope it does… I hope it goes back to… Can I say the no dickheads policy?” he said.
“Yeah, we’ve always been proud of, you know, no dickheads policy, and that I’ve known players in the past personally, and I always look up to them.”
“I hope they [the AFLW team] come out and kick butt. This is what I hoping they’ll do. They don’t deserve any of what’s here for this week,” he said.
“I hope they come out and I hope the crowd gets right behind them.”
Sun 23 Aug 2026 at 1:32pmSun 23 Aug 2026 at 1:32pm
‘Really upsetting’: Swans fans respond to week
Swans fans Kayley and Georgia are at the SCG in Sydney merch for the day ahead.
They are there to support the women but will stay for a bit of the men’s game.
“It’s very disappointing from the men’s team… I feel like we were very disappointed in everything that happened,” Georgia said.
Swans supporters Kayley and Georgia. (Getty)
Kayley added: “We’ve been supporting the swan since we were kids as well. So it was just shocking.
“We never thought that any players from this team could do something like this. It was really upsetting.”
Sun 23 Aug 2026 at 1:29pmSun 23 Aug 2026 at 1:29pmSmall banners with profanities removed from the SCG
Mixed in with all the emotions of the Swans fans has definitely been some anger.
We’ve seen it in a few banners, which were removed by security.
Sun 23 Aug 2026 at 1:28pmSun 23 Aug 2026 at 1:28pm
‘Supporting women’s and men’s today’
Margaret and Bruce have come from the Blue Mountains to watch today’s historic double-header.
“We are supporting women’s and men today,” Bruce told ABC News.
“(We’re) staying for both matches.
“It’s been awful, it’s been just terrible, upsetting, angry, disappointing.
“We feel for the people that werent involved in the team, that’s why we are here.”
Swans fans Margaret and Bruce (ABC: Samantha Jurman)
Margaret added: “The people playing today… have had no input on the disgrace or the behaviour of five players.
“If we turn up in numbers for the women’s match, they’ll be very pleased.
“And because this whole incident is not about… It’s only about the five players, really. But its impact is very far-reaching.”
Sun 23 Aug 2026 at 1:23pmSun 23 Aug 2026 at 1:23pmHT: Essendon 3.3 (21) leads Sydney 2.7 (19)
Maddie Prespakis (right) was dominant in the first half for Essendon. (Getty Images)
Essendon’s Stephanie Wales misses a shot on goal at the siren, but it’s been an excellent first half for the Dons.
The Swans players have certainly given a good account of themselves as well, and the crowd in attendance gives them a big ovation as they go into the sheds for half-time.
Essendon’s Maddie Prespakis has been sensational in the first half with 20 disposals, but has some important words on the meaning of this match.
“We obviously know it’s been a bit of a sad week for females and the Sydney Swans as a whole and the community as a whole, and we knew that coming in,” she tells Fox Footy.
“We’ve got a lot of respect for their club and being able to play here is really good.
“All we want to do is put on a good spectacle and showcase what women can do.”
The Bombers lead the inside 50 count 19-16, but the Swans lead the clearance count 14-8.
Ally Morphett has been among the best for the Swans with 11 touches, 12 hitouts and five clearances.
Sun 23 Aug 2026 at 1:14pmSun 23 Aug 2026 at 1:14pmHow the Swans fans have reacted to club scandal
There have been a whole range of emotions for Swans fans this week.
As thousands attended today’s double-header at the SCG, here’s the story from Marnie Vinall on all of their reactions.
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