MVP or best and fairest? Sydney Swans quietly recast messaging for Bob Skilton Medal

The shadow of the Pullman five continues to loom large over the Sydney Swans as the club’s best and fairest night approaches on Thursday.

CBD noted with interest on Wednesday what appeared to be a curious revision to the messaging around the night. A news update on the Swans website in June when tickets for the gala occasion went on sale, referred to the Bob Skilton Medal as being awarded to “our best and fairest player”.

On Tuesday, an item with details of the night was loaded onto the Swans website where the medal was described as going to “the club’s most valuable player”.

The timing of the change of messaging is interesting – bye best and fairest, hello most valuable.

CBD contacted the club to find out the intention behind the change.

“Given the Bob Skilton Medal is awarded by coaches giving votes after each match we thought it better categorised as most valuable player,” a spokesperson told us.

Of course, some of the biggest names from the Swans’ playing group will be missing from the event, including the expected winner of the “most valuable” gong.

The hot favourite to take home the Bob Skilton Medal, Isaac Heeney, won’t be suited up at the Sydney Town Hall and neither will his teammates Chad Warner, Nick Blakey, Riley Bice and James Jordon.

The five are still in disgrace having been suspended by the club after causing all hell to break loose back in August when they took part in an in-season boozy bender, involving three exotic dancers, at the Pullman hotel in East Melbourne.

Police are still investigating allegations of sexual assault stemming from the blow out.

In separate statements to Victoria Police, each of the three women have variously alleged they were sexually assaulted and touched inappropriately without consent.

Bice and two other men who were also in the Pullman hotel suite as events unfolded – now retired former teammate Taylor Adams and a mystery man – are now considered by police to be witnesses to the pre-dawn events. The four other players remain persons of interest in the investigation. The players have maintained their innocence and denied any criminal wrongdoing.

Meanwhile, for fans with burning questions, CBD was most interested in the “premium experience” limited to just 50 guests on offer at the Swans’ big night.

The ticket packages offering an intimate pre-event inner-sanctum experience with head coach Dean Cox and executive general manager of football Leon Cameron, along with premium seating among the players, were quickly snapped up. We expect there were boundaries on the questions that could be asked.

Spring Street leaks

Leaks are nothing new in politics, but a leaking roof at Parliament House, Victoria’s seat of power, is another thing altogether.

And when the drips persist for more than two years … one wonders if it is a reflection of where we are in this state. No wonder we can’t get potholes fixed.

Water has been trickling down walls and dripping onto carpets in the Members’ Annexe at the Victoria Parliament with frustrating regularity and the leaks have become an ongoing talking point for media and staff in the offices in the building.

The Members’ Annexe is a modern extension of Parliament House which was completed back in 2018.

Back in November 2023, The Age first reported on the soggy situation that had emerged in the building that houses up to 100 MPs during sitting weeks, noting that plastic buckets to catch droplets and temporary barriers to prevent politicians and their staff from tripping over had been set up in two kitchenettes. It was reported at that time that the leaks were non-partisan, occurring on the floor occupied by Labor MPs and on the one housing the Coalition.

In June this year, The Age again referenced the water problem, noting that during a marathon sitting of parliament “a heavy storm … sent water gushing into the offices of some MPs”.

It seems the problems persist with a quip about the leaks even landing in Hansard, thanks to member for the North-Eastern Metropolitan region Sonja Terpstra.

“I know the Annexe has kept you busy, especially the air-conditioning that is either too hot or too cold, along with the amazing water features in our kitchen and offices,” she said while thanking parliamentary staff last Wednesday.

But there is light on the horizon.

CBD noticed work had started on the rooftop garden of the Annexe last week, the final sitting week of the year. We’re guessing it’s part of the process to fix the problem.

We checked in with parliament’s presiding officers and were told “the current works mobilised during September 2026” and the “works will be completed in stages during 2027”.

Of course those repairs might be too late for some of the members of this government, given the parliamentary sitting year is finished and the election is only eight weeks away.