Nick Blakey's Future Uncertain as Swans Star Eyes Move Amidst Scandal Fallout
Gold Coast coach Damien Hardwick meets with Sydney's Nick Blakey, who is considering leaving the club after being stood down due to an off-field incident, despite having five years remaining on his contract.
Gold Coast coach Damien Hardwick has traveled to Melbourne to meet with Sydney Swans star Nick Blakey, who is reportedly weighing his future with the club. Blakey, an All-Australian defender, has five years remaining on his contract but is considering a move amidst interest from several rival clubs, including Geelong, Gold Coast, Essendon, St Kilda, and North Melbourne.
Blakey's potential departure comes after he was among five Sydney players stood down for the remainder of the 2026 season. The decision followed breaches of club protocols linked to an incident at Melbourne's Pullman Hotel in August. Isaac Heeney, Chad Warner, James Jordon, and Riley Bice were also stood down. Victoria Police are investigating allegations of sexual assault connected to the incident, though no criminal charges have been reported.
Reports suggest Blakey is frustrated with Sydney's handling of the situation and is exploring a fresh start. His preferred destination is reportedly Geelong, though he is also open to joining the Suns. Essendon, St Kilda, and North Melbourne are also expected to meet with the defender.
Sydney Swans boss Chris Keane stated that the club learned of Blakey's planned meetings with rival clubs through online reports and maintained that the defender remaining at Sydney was the "most likely scenario." Keane emphasized that Blakey is contracted for five more years and that the club highly rates him, making any trade "significantly challenging."
"We haven't heard that directly from Nick himself," Keane said regarding any explicit request to leave. He indicated ongoing conversations with Blakey's manager and reiterated the club's priority is player retention during the trade period. Discussions are also continuing with the management of Chad Warner and Tom McCartin, who are entering the final year of their contracts, while veteran Dane Rampe has yet to decide on his future. Harry Cunningham is also considering his options after receiving an offer from the Swans.