Swans players to return to the club for first time since suspension

September 23, 2026 — 8:02amSwans players Isaac Heeney, Chad Warner, Nick Blakey, Riley Bice and James Jordon will return to the club’s Moore Park headquarters on Wednesday – five weeks after they were stood down for a late-night incident in Melbourne.The five players were suspended by the club for the rest of the AFL season for breaching the club’s standards last month after their side’s win over Essendon. They will make their long-awaited return to Swans HQ today for routine end-of-season exit meetings.Swans players (from left) Chad Warner, James Jordon, Isaac Heeney, Riley Bice and Nick Blakey were suspended by the club.Artwork: Marija ErcegovacThe Swans’ club-imposed suspensions were separate from a Victoria Police investigation into allegations of sexual assault at the Pullman. No charges have been laid.Swans coach Dean Cox and chief executive Matthew Pavlich confirmed the news when speaking to reporters at Moore Park on Wednesday morning.“It’s a natural thing the players will come in,” Pavlich said.“We have our exit meetings and the players will come in. The players at some point will have a chat to the broader group and the club.“I want them to be themselves and I want them to come and do what they normally do – their player exit meetings.”Exit meetings are end-of-season reviews, typically held between a club’s coaching staff and individual players.Exit meetings are end-of-season reviews, typically held between a club’s coaching staff and individual players.The suspended players were also banned from attending this year’s Brownlow count – even though they were eligible to win the award. Heeney collected 26 votes on Monday night, with Collingwood favourite Nick Daicos winning the prestigious medal by a landslide with a record 47 votes.Warner, Blakey and Bice also received votes throughout the night.The Swans made it as far as the preliminary final, but coughed-up a 28-point lead against Fremantle to lose by 12 points at the SCG on Friday.More to comeNews, results and expert analysis from the weekend of sport sent every Monday. Sign up for our Sport newsletter.Billie Eder is a sports reporter at The Sydney Morning Herald.Connect via X or email.From our partners