Banned Swans set to skip club awards night despite awkward possibility
The five players at the centre of the Sydney Swans sexual assault allegations will not be in attendance at the club’s end-of-season awards night.
But in a statement on Friday afternoon, the Swans confirmed they all remain eligible to win the Bob Skilton Medal for the club’s best-and-fairest player.
James Jordon, Chad Warner, Isaac Heeney, Riley Bice and Nick Blakey will not be at the club’s end-of-season awards night, but remain eligible. Nine
Nick Blakey, Riley Bice, Isaac Heeney, James Jordon and Chad Warner were all stood down following a late night of partying at Melbourne’s Pullman Hotel, where the Swans were staying after their round 23 victory over the Bombers.
Bice has since been cleared by Victoria Police of any wrongdoing, and no charges have yet been laid against the other four.
“Eligibility and voting criteria for the Bob Skilton Medal remains unchanged from previous years,” the club said in a statement.
“All players who represented the club in season 2026 will be eligible.
“However, we can confirm (the five players) have requested not to attend the awards night, and this has been agreed to by the club.”
Heeney is considered favourite to win a third-straight Bob Skilton Medal, despite missing the final three games of the season.
If he wins, a speech will likely be made in his absence by CEO Matthew Pavlich. This was the club’s plan in the unlikely event Heeney won the Brownlow.
Having finished second on the ladder, the Swans were again considered premiership contenders before the scandal – they even smashed the Lions in the opening week to book their spot in a preliminary final.
Against Fremantle last weekend, the Swans led for much of the match before running out of puff in the final quarter.
The Swans’ awards night will be held at Sydney Town Hall on October 1.
