Heeney ‘thankful’ as he and banned Swans return to club, address teammates
The five banned Sydney Swans players returned to the team’s Moore Park headquarters to face the music and address teammates on Wednesday afternoon.
Isaac Heeney, Chad Warner, Nick Blakey, James Jordon and Riley Bice all made their first appearances at the club since they were stood down in August for breaching club standards following post-match celebrations at Melbourne’s Pullman Hotel.
Isaac Heeney was met by a sea of reporters when he arrived at Swans headquarters. Sitthixay Ditthavong
Heeney, Blakey and Jordon arrived in one car together, while Warner and Bice showed up at a similar time in another vehicle.
The group had little to say to reporters before walking inside.
“I’m looking forward to addressing the playing group,” Heeney said.
Warner added: “I’m just here for my exit interview.”
Over 100 people, including club staffers, the AFLW and the AFL team, were in attendance when the five players delivered their 20-minute address.
Heeney told reporters as he left the building and returned to his car that it “was really nice to be able” to speak to the club.
“I”m really thankful they could give us their time and understanding,” he said.
“It was really good.”
Heeney offered no further comment as he left.
Earlier on Wednesday, Swans chief executive Matthew Pavlich spoke to reporters.
"Look, it's a natural thing that the players will come into the club over the next period," Pavlich said.
“Don’t know exactly when that’ll be, given that the season’s now finished and player exit meetings are occurring. And the players at some point will have a chat to the broader group and the club, but yeah, there’s no timeline.”
Pavlich was asked what he would want the five to say in their address to the team.
Isaac Heeney speaks to the media outside of the Sydney Swans HQ. George Chan
James Jordon and Nick Blakey were with Heeney when he arrived. Sitthixay Ditthavong
“I want them to be themselves. I want them to come in and do what we’d normally do at the end of a season, which is, yeah, player exit meetings,” he replied.
"If they've got something to say to their player group, if they've got something to say to the club, then we'll hear them out then."
Other Swans players had made their way into the club’s headquarters before the trio on Wednesday afternoon, with staff waiting inside waiting for them.
AFL chief operating officer Tom Harley had confirmed with reporters that the league has yet to become involved in how the Swans are handling the five players.
Victoria Police are separately investigating sexual assault allegations with an update expected for October. No charges have been laid.
Harley noted that the Swans will ultimately have the final say on when the five players could return for pre-season training, given they are not traded.
Isaac Heeney arriving at Sydney Swans HQ. Sitthixay Ditthavong
As per the Sydney Morning Herald, Blakey and his management are awaiting more clarity about the ongoing police investigation before he requests a trade.
As for Warner, he has reportedly not contemplated a trade and is committed to returning to the club.
