AFL chief says suspended Swans will not go to Brownlow ceremony

By Simon Smale

Topic:AFL

Andrew Dillon said the league would not conduct its own enquiries until after the police investigation. (Getty Images: Quinn Rooney)

AFL boss Andrew Dillon has spoken to the media about the Sydney Swans scandal, saying "the actions of a few don't define the actions of the entire industry".

Dillon was at the launch of the men's AFL finals series and the first-ever wildcard round but was mainly asked about the AFL's handling of the Sydney Swans scandal, as well as details on allegations of drug use by the players.

Players Isaac Heeney, Nick Blakey, Chad Warner, Riley Bice and James Jordon have been stood down by the Sydney Swans for breaching the club's standards on drinking and staying out late after last Sunday's win over Essendon in Melbourne.

Police from Victoria's sexual crimes squad are separately investigating a report of sexual assault, which the ABC understands centres on a player allegedly touching a woman without her consent.

A police investigation is still underway, but no charges have been laid or arrests made.

Dillon and the AFL released a statement on Tuesday evening, the day after the story emerged, but today marked the first time Dillon or any of the league's higher-ups had fronted the media on the matter.

Chief executive Dillon said it was fair to say the scandal had "overshadowed" the start of the finals, but that he hoped football could bring people together, as evidenced by the emotional scenes after the Swans' men's and women's double header at the SCG on Sunday.

Sydney Swans fans react to an emotional week, where a scandal continues to engulf the club, as they prepare to watch a historic double header at the SCG.

"The actions of a few do not take away from the thousands of people involved in football at all different levels who do great things all the time," he said.

"But what we do know is that we can do things better and we will continue to do that and we will continue to learn to be better.

"I think the actions of a few don't define the actions of the entire industry."

Dillon said the five suspended players would not be invited to the Brownlow Medal ceremony, held on the Monday before the grand final, but remained eligible for the award.

Dillon said the league would not conduct its own enquiries into the incident until after the police investigation was finished.

On Saturday, police provided an update about the investigation being undertaken by detectives from the Sexual Crimes Squad.

"The exact circumstances of the matter are still being established, and a number of people have been spoken to," the statement read.

"As the investigation remains active and ongoing, we will not be commenting further, including providing information on the specific circumstances of the matter, movements of detectives and any statements or interviews taken."

In a statement, the Sydney Swans said the club "supports the action taken by Victoria Police in releasing today's statement regarding the investigation".

The club's statement also addressed comments relating to other men, beyond the five players identified by the club, being present in the hotel room at the centre of the allegations.

"The Sydney Swans categorically confirms that no member of staff is involved in the investigation. This includes being in the hotel room central to the police investigation," it read.

"The club reiterates that no player has been interviewed by police at this stage."

Live Moment

Look back at how ABC readers and other Australians responded to this live moment.

Mon 24 Aug 2026 at 12:40pmMon 24 Aug 2026 at 12:40pm 'It is a privilege to play AFL': Dillon

Dillon is asked a follow up whether the five named players relating to the scandal have been held accountable.

"There's been accountability for those players," he says.

"It is a privilege to play AFL and with that comes responsibilities."

Mon 24 Aug 2026 at 12:40pmMon 24 Aug 2026 at 12:40pm AFL has reviewed illicit drugs policy

Dillon is asked whether the alleged drug use that has created part of the story around the Swans scandal has prompted a rethink over the league's illicit drugs policy.

"We've just undergone an extensive review of the illicit drugs policy," Dillon says.

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