Source :- PERTH NOW NEWS
The five Swans who the club banned in the wake of ongoing sex assault allegations will be eligible to win Sydney’s best and fairest medal, but have requested not to attend the awards night.
Nick Blakey, Riley Bice, Isaac Heeney, James Jordon, and Chad Warner sat out the end of the Swans’ 2026 campaign after not meeting behavioural standards while celebrating a win over Essendon in round 23.
Meanwhile, police are separately investigating allegations surrounding what allegedly occurred in a room of the Pullman East Melbourne Hotel where the club was staying. No charges have been laid.
The ‘Pullman Five’ returned to the club this week after the Swans season came to an end against Fremantle in the preliminary final with the group addressing their teammates, and star Isaac Heeney apologising.
On Friday, the club revealed that all five players would be eligible to win the Bob Skilton Medal on October 1.
However, none of them will be in attendance on the night following the Swans’ approval of their requests to refrain from attending.
“Eligibility and voting criteria for the Bob Skilton Medal remains unchanged from previous years. All players who represented the club in season 2026 will be eligible,” a club statement read.
“However, we can confirm Nick Blakey, Riley Bice, Isaac Heeney, James Jordon and Chad Warner have requested not to attend the awards night, and this has been agreed to by the club.”
Heeney is one of the favourites to win the medal, which would be his third in a row after going back-to-back in 2024 and 2025.
The midfielder had a stellar year on-field, while defender Blakey is likely to poll well alongside Warner, who could also finish in the top three.
All five players are set to be welcomed back into the Swans’ fold, but reports suggest Blakey is keen to seek a trade away from Sydney, likely back to his home state of Victoria.
