5 Australian rules footballers banned by Sydney Swans amid police investigation
AP News • • sports
Key Points:
- Five Sydney Swans AFL players—Riley Bice, Nick Blakey, Isaac Heeney, James Jordon, and Chad Warner—have been banned for the remainder of the 2026 season for breaching player codes of conduct during a hotel stay linked to a police sexual assault investigation.
- The club's sanctions are independent of the ongoing Victoria Police investigation, which has not resulted in any charges or identified any player involved in the alleged assault.
- The players were disciplined for staying out late, drinking, and bringing women back to the hotel after a game, behavior deemed far below the club's standards.
- AFL CEO Andrew Dillon expressed concern over the allegations and emphasized respect for the privacy of the woman who reported the incident.
- The Sydney Swans condemned all forms of abuse and disrespect toward women, with club leadership apologizing and highlighting the seriousness of the disciplinary action.
