Heeney fronts Swans HQ as banned five return for exit meetings
Isaac Heeney says he is looking forward to addressing Sydney's playing group after his season was ended by a club suspension.
The forward spoke briefly as he arrived at Swans HQ on Wednesday evening with his four banned teammates for exit meetings, the end-of-season reviews where players and football staff go over the year. It was his first public comment since the club suspended the five last month for a breach of standards, according to ABC News.
Chad Warner and Riley Bice walked in first. Heeney followed shortly after in a group with James Jordon and Nick Blakey. The players were met at the door by Swans executive general manager of football Leon Cameron.
Reporters asked Warner if he would apologise to his teammates. "I don't know, we'll wait and see," he said. Blakey, Jordon and Bice did not speak on arrival.
The five suspended players are Heeney, Warner, Blakey, Jordon and Bice. Sydney said in a club statement last month that they would not be considered for selection for the remainder of the season, and later listed four of them with the designation "(Club Suspension)" for Round 24, according to the Sydney Swans.
The club described the action as a breach of standards and expected behaviour. Earlier reporting said the breach followed a late night out drinking, and that the players were also barred from the Brownlow Medal ceremony, the league's award night for the best-and-fairest player.
Sydney's season continued without them. An undermanned side beat Brisbane in a qualifying final, which decides who gets a week off and an easier path forward, then lost to Fremantle in a preliminary final, one win short of the Grand Final. That defeat last week ended the Swans' 2026 campaign and set up this week's reviews.
The suspension came amid a police investigation. Reporting on that investigation has said it concerned a sexual assault at a Melbourne hotel. The players previously issued a joint apology after the ban was announced, saying they were deeply sorry.
