At least one of the five suspended Sydney Swans stars is set to walk out on the club at the end of the AFL season.
Nick Blakey has reportedly told associates that he wants a trade to another club, despite having five years left on his Swans contract, worth more than $1 million a year.
Several sources told The Age that relations between him and the club have deteriorated following the Pullman East Melbourne Hotel scandal almost three weeks ago.
Isaac Heeney, Chad Warner, James Jordon, Riley Bice and Blakey were all stood down for the remainder of the 2026 season after the Swans found the group had breached club standards by staying out late, drinking and bringing women back to the team hotel.
The suspensions are separate from a Victoria Police investigation into an alleged sexual assault at the Pullman East Melbourne Hotel on August 17, following the Swans’ round 23 win against Essendon at the MCG.
The players have denied any wrongdoing, and no charges have been laid.
Sydney Swans Nick Blakey (pictured with partner Ella Connolly) has reportedly told associates that he wants a trade to another club
The Sydney Swans star was one of five players stood down for the rest of the season for breaching club standards. He is pictured with fans the night before the Pullman East Melbourne Hotel scandal
Blakey, the son of two-time North Melbourne premiership great John Blakey, considered a potential move to the Gold Coast Suns a year ago as his girlfriend, Olympic runner Ella Connolly, prepared to relocate to Queensland ahead of the 2032 Brisbane Olympics.
Blakey, 26, ultimately chose to stay in Sydney, where he has played all 173 AFL games of his career since debuting in 2019.
Sources claim Blakey was unhappy with how the Swans handled the saga, while the club reportedly feels the same way about him and his involvement.
They added that any attempted switch during next month’s AFL trade period could be complicated.
It is understood Blakey is ‘certainly a player of very strong interest for Melbourne clubs’.
‘I believe up to eight clubs will be chasing Nick Blakey, including St Kilda, who want a half-back,’ AFL reporter Jay Clark told Fox Footy last month.
‘North Melbourne, obviously, Melbourne have two first-round picks, and Collingwood and Carlton will do their due diligence, too.’
Riley Bice, Chad Warner, Isaac Heeney, Nick Blakely, and James Jordon were stood down for the rest of the AFL season
Blakey’s housemate and fellow Swans teammate James Rowbottom was quizzed by reporters about the rumours at a press conference on Friday.
‘I haven’t spoken to Nick about those sort of details,’ Rowbottom said.
‘It’s been a challenging period for him, and I’m just reaching out as a friend. Living with him adds a whole new layer to the situation, but I haven’t spoken to him about any of those specifics.
‘You’ve got to sort of separate the person from the problem when you live with someone, try to offer support.
‘It’s been challenging, but we are working through it. Playing footy gives you a release and a sense of normality.’
Detectives from Victoria travelled to NSW this week to interview four men, including a 30-year-old Maroubra man, a 25-year-old Paddington man and two Randwick men aged 25 and 26.
Bice, who reportedly booked the strippers, was not questioned and is being treated only as a witness.
Victoria Police added that an update to the investigation was not expected for at least eight weeks.
The five players remain eligible for the Brownlow Medal but have not been invited to attend AFL’s night of nights in Melbourne on September 21.
There is speculation Swans will part ways with all five suspended players.
The club declined to comment on their playing futures.
Swans coach Dean Cox remains in contact with the suspended players with the support of the club.
‘My first part of the conversation [with the five players] has only been about how they’re going. I haven’t touched on anything to do with the investigation,’ he told reporters on Thursday.
‘I think that’s the best way to go forward with that. And then from that, what can we do? What can I do to help you through this period?’
