Lloyd’s huge call on star Swans as scandal collides with trade period
Essendon champion Matthew Lloyd is certain Nick Blakey and Chad Warner will be playing at rival clubs in 2027, if they request trades out of Sydney.
Both are contracted to the Swans beyond this season, but both have been stood down for the remainder of the campaign for breaching team standards during a late-night partying session in Melbourne following round 23.
Sydney’s Nick Blakey. AFL Photos
Victoria Police detectives have spoken to players Blakey, Warner, Isaac Heeney, Riley Bice and James Jordon in the past week regarding alleged events that occurred at the Pullman Hotel that night.
Bice has been cleared of criminal wrongdoing and is being treated as a potential witness, while multiple reports have suggested Heeney is at the centre of the investigation.
Blakey meanwhile is reportedly weighing up a trade request, with The Age reporting his relationship with Sydney has deteriorated amid this saga.
The star defender is contracted until 2031 and Victoria Police have stated they aren't expecting to provide an update on this case for another eight weeks, which is beyond the end of this year's trade period.
Pending how things are looking, however, Lloyd believes clubs will be desperate to get such talented players into their buildings.
“Pure football, there would be 17 clubs falling over themselves to get Heeney, Warner or Blakey to play for them,” Lloyd said on 3AW on Friday evening.
"I think all three of them are in the best 15 players in the game. That's how highly I rate the three of them."
However, Lloyd admits the complexities around the case, and the potential lack of clarity come the trade period, could make it difficult.
"Pure football, yes, you'd trade for them, but that's not the situation," he said.
“I think they’ll be playing football next year. In terms of Warner and Blakey, they’ll be playing somewhere, but the police investigation won’t conclude until after the trade period.
"You've also got the situation they're in, you've got AFLW sides, you've got sponsors, you've got board members who will need to tick this off. You've got to go through so many hoops to jump through.
“But I think somebody, and there will be clubs who get past those hurdles, particularly with Blakey, to get him to play for their club next year. I’m curious to see how fans feel about him playing for them next year.”
Warner is contracted until the end of 2027, but has been linked previously with a move home to Western Australia.
