Source :- PERTH NOW NEWS
The AFL has announced the five Sydney Swans players stood down for a serious breach of club standards have been removed from All-Australian contention.
Chad Warner and Isaac Heeney are among the players who were handed season-ending bans by the club on Wednesday, alongside Nick Blakey, Riley Bice and James Jordan.
The Swans reaffirmed the action was “independent” of the investigation into reports of an alleged sexual assault at the team’s Melbourne hotel.
In a statement hours later, the AFL confirmed the quintet would not be considered for selection in the All-Australian team, one of the highest individual honours in the competition.
The squad was due to be released earlier this week but was delayed following the allegations. The squad will now be announced on Monday, while the final team will be unveiled at the AFL Awards on Tuesday.
“Following the decision and appropriate club sanction imposed by the Sydney Swans today in relation to the conduct of five of their players, the AFL has determined those players will not be considered for selection in the 2026 All Australian squad,” the statement read.
“This decision is independent of the ongoing Victoria Police investigation.”
Heeney, one of five players at the centre of sexual assault allegations that have rocked the league, was considered a leading contender to be named.
The Swans vice-captain has been All-Australian three times (2022, 2024 and 2025) while Warner and Blakey both received the honour in 2024.
More to come.
