Sydney Swans fans are planning a match boycott to protest the club's handling of an alleged sexual assault and player misconduct. Five players have been temporarily suspended for breaching club standards related to late-night drinking and bringing women back to their hotel.
The players—Isaac Heeney, Nick Blakey, Riley Bice, James Jordon, and Chad Warner—have been barred from playing for the remainder of the 2026 season. These suspensions are separate from an ongoing Victoria Police investigation into an alleged sexual assault at the Pullman East Melbourne hotel.
While the players have denied any wrongdoing and have not yet been formally interviewed by police, they issued a joint statement on Wednesday evening apologizing for behavior that fell "short" of club values and vowing to focus on "rebuilding trust."
Some fans have declared their intention to walk out of the SCG during the club's next game against North Melbourne. "I think a walk out is the least the fans can do. (It) sends a clear message to everyone across the sport," one fan wrote on Reddit.
However, others have argued that boycotting the match would be unfair to the rest of the team, who are not implicated in the scandal. "Would it not be worthwhile to stick around and actually support those players that have worked their a[...][...]s off throughout the whole season now more than ever?" another fan questioned, adding that the players who have made sacrifices deserve support.
Concerns were also raised for the club's AFLW players, with some fans advocating for attendance at the women's game against the Essendon Bombers as a show of support.
The men's team, with one home-and-away game left, has secured second place on the ladder and is guaranteed two home finals. Vice-captain Heeney, Warner, and Blakey are considered key players and were in contention for All Australian honors.
The AFL has ruled that all five suspended players will not be eligible for selection for the ceremonial team, deeming the club's suspensions "appropriate."
Sydney Swans chief executive Matthew Pavlich stated that the club's AFLW players were "deeply disappointed" by the controversy. Australia's Governor-General Sam Mostyn, a former Swans board member, expressed shock and concern, emphasizing the importance of supporting the alleged victim and addressing the broader issue of disrespect towards women in sport.
1800 RESPECT (1800 737 732) and the National Sexual Abuse and Redress Support Service (1800 211 028) have been listed for those seeking support.