Return date for suspended Swans stars reportedly set amid finals collapse
With Sydney’s season officially over, focus now returns to the suspended ‘Pullman Five’ and what comes next for them.
The Swans are adamant that all five will return to the club next year and that none have requested trades.
James Jordon, Chad Warner, Isaac Heeney, Riley Bice and Nick Blakey have been stood down for the rest of the season by the Swans. Nine
This is despite multiple reports that star defender Nick Blakey is keen for a fresh start amid a relationship breakdown with the club, as Gold Coast, North Melbourne and St Kilda circle him.
On the flip side, Chad Warner has reportedly told Sydney that he is keen to stay and rebuild trust with the group.
With that in mind, News Corp is reporting that the quintet will be welcomed back to the club for day one of pre-season, likely in early-to-mid November.
It comes after the Swans blew a five-goal lead to Fremantle on Friday night, losing out on their chance to play in a grand final. Essendon champion Matthew Lloyd stated after the game that the teammates of these players would likely never forgive them for greatly impacting their shot at a premiership.
Blakey, Warner, Isaac Heeney and James Jordon remain part of an ongoing police investigation into what occurred at the Pullman Hotel on the night following their round 23 win over Essendon. No charged have been laid.
All five players were suspended for the season by the Swans for breaching team protocols.
They were barred by the AFL from All-Australian selection, likely costing Heeney, Warner and Blakey, and all three were taken off the Brownlow Medal invite list, though they all remain eligible.
Sydney now faces an awkward few days. Players, coaches and administrators will attend Monday night’s Brownlow Medal in Melbourne – Brodie Grundy, Tom McCartin, Charlie Curnow, Dane Rampe and Logan McDonald the players invited to attend.
On the same day, they will likely hold some kind of Mad Monday celebration to close off the season.
Given the suspensions of the Pullman Five, however, they will likely be muted celebrations and will certainly be watched closely by the club, the AFL and the local media.
The return of the five players for the start of pre-season will also be scrutinised internally. The club’s AFLW team, led by captain Lucy McEvoy, made it publicly clear the women’s team want a say in their return.
Police Victoria have also stated they will not be providing an update on the investigation for some time, potentially closer to November.
This means any trades that occur are done at the risk of the club acquiring them.
Neither the AFL nor the Swans have ruled out further punishments for the players should more details come to light, which could potentially delay their returns.
Sydney will now head to the draft without their first round pick, which they owe to Carlton. They also will be without captain Callum Mills for the majority of 2027 after he tore his ACL in their first final.
