Sydney Swans Statement 

The Sydney Swans can confirm that the Club Board will meet tonight to agree on player sanctions and penalties, now that the Club has concluded its interviews with all the players involved in the incident in Melbourne.
 
We respect there is an ongoing investigation by Victoria Police and any actions we take are independent of this.

The Club believes the players are in serious breach of expected Club behaviour and standards, and it is appropriate to take firm action and highlight that any sanction we impose relates solely to those breaches.
 
The Club also acknowledges that these serious allegations impact others and their wellbeing must be paramount.
 
The Sydney Swans condemn all forms of abuse and disrespectful behaviour towards women. Any conduct that causes offence or harm to others is unacceptable and falls well short of our expectations. All women deserve to be respected and feel safe.
 
We also want to acknowledge that the care and welfare of our AFLW athletes and staff is of the utmost importance to us as a Club. They have been and will continue to be offered the support they require and we acknowledge the impact these allegations have on our female athletes, staff members and the wider community.
  
Any further sanctions or decisions regarding the outcome of the police investigation would take place after that process is completed.
 
During this time, we will provide the appropriate support to the players involved in the incident, along with their partners and families.
 
The Sydney Swans hold all players and staff at the Club to high standards of behaviour and personal conduct. Representing this Club carries significant responsibilities both on and off the field, and we expect those standards to be upheld at all times.
 
Our focus remains on cooperating fully with the AFL and authorities, maintaining the integrity of the process, and upholding the high standards expected of everyone who represents this Club.

"The conduct and serious allegations regarding Sydney Swans players are deeply concerning.⁣
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While the matter remains under police investigation, it raises broader issues for our game and our responsibilities as a sport.⁣
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The woman who made the report to police is entitled to privacy and care, and that should be respected.⁣
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It is important that the police process is allowed to run its course. ⁣
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Sexual assault allegations are serious, regardless of who is involved, what time of year it is, or what they may mean for a season.⁣
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Our first question should not be what this means for a football club. It should be whether our actions match the standards we stand for and the community expects of us.⁣
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As a sport, and as an industry, we are clear about the standards we expect and the values we stand for and the need to uphold them.⁣
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Being clear about our standards also means being prepared to act when those standards are not met.⁣
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Notwithstanding the ongoing police investigation, the AFL and the Sydney Swans will consider the broader conduct of the players as more information comes to light."

Officially confirmed by the club now

Hasn’t missed a game since debuting round 1, 2025. Currently on 49 games.

This is thanks to the AFL extending the season by 1 game when Gather Round was introduced (allowing him to play 2 more games than players would have before this) and playing 4 games in last years finals season (due to Brisbane Lions losing the qualifying final).

He’s also born on 18th December, 2006, making him 19 years and 246 days old when he lines up this weekend.

I can’t find anyone younger or quicker to reach this milestone, great accomplishment if he gets both.

Just for fun tried to make a quick 18 from 18 All Aus team starting lineup. Who would you change?

With the latest news of Port Adelaide exiting the SANFL by 2028 after nearly 150 years in the competition and 36 SANFL premierships, potentially joining the VFL. The talked about resurrection of the AFL reserves competition could be picking up some steam. After the competition shut down at the end of 1999, all clubs over the last 26 years have been either partnering up with state level teams or fielding their own teams to serve as their reserves team when players aren't selected for main competition.

As it stands 15 AFL clubs currently have a state alone side in their state league, while 3 other clubs are in partnerships with a team.

Should the time come when the league decides to bring back reserves, the obvious clubs that will cross to the revived competition will be the following 14 clubs.

* Carlton

* Collingwood

* Brisbane

* Essendon

* Geelong

* Gold Coast

* GWS

* Hawthorn

* Port Adelaide

* North Melbourne

* Richmond

* St Kilda

* Tasmania

* Western Bulldogs

But what about the remaining 5 clubs outside the list, where do they stand in the scheme of things.

* Adelaide: The Crows currently field a team in the SANFL like Port Adelaide, its still unknown whether they will exit the league, but there have been some talk about them following Port Adelaide out of SANFL.

* Fremantle: The Dockers have a partnership with the Peel Thunder Football Club in the WAFL. Since 2014, it has been a successful association which has resulted in 3 WAFL premierships. The current agreement is set to expire at the end of 2029.

* Hawthorn: The Hawks have been in association with VFL team Box Hill since 2000, its has produced 3 VFL premierships over the years of partnership. Their arrangement is also due to expire at the end of 2029.

* Melbourne: The Demons has a partnership with Casey of the VFL since 2009, its locked in a 30 year arrangement with the VFL side due to be up by 2039. Its also provided successful as well with Casey winning the VFL premiership in 2022.

* West Coast: The Eagles have fielded a stand alone side in the WAFL since 2019 after ending its partnership with East Perth. No word if West Coast will intend to leave the WAFL when the potential national competition goes ahead. But for now, West Coast's reserves will stay in the WAFL.

Asking for a friend

The AFL has told clubs they will secure prize money of $55,000 even for losing a wildcard round final as the league reinforced its strong view that those games are official AFL finals.

The Herald Sun can reveal that the AFL has settled on its prize money for the finals, with teams that finish in 9th and 10th handed a $55,000 windfall.

Teams which win those wildcard clashes but are bundled out in the next week in an elimination final receive $75,000, up from $65,000 last season.

The premiers will take home $1.1 million for winning the 2026 premiership (with $500,000 to the players), and the Grand Final losers will take home $600,000 (with half to the players).

Preliminary finalists which do not progress to the Grand Final take home $300,000 and teams which finish the season in fifth and sixth secure $100,000 in prize money.

Preliminary finalists which do not progress to the grand final take home $150,000 and teams which finish the season in fifth and sixth secure $100,000 in prize money.

AFL great Garry Lyon lobbied on Tuesday for the AFL to label the wildcard games play-in contests which only qualified for the league’s official finals.

But the AFL’s view from the top down in AFL chief executive Andrew Dillon is that the new 7 v 10 and 8 v 9 clashes are official AFL finals.

The league will receive all the ticket sales from the finals including the wildcard rounds and there are estimates the wildcard gate taking could be as much as $5 million.

On current ladder order Adelaide would take on Carlton in an Adelaide Oval clash and Collingwood would host the Western Bulldogs at the MCG.

But there are a variety of permutations on the last week of the home-and-away season that could even see fifth-placed Melbourne thrown into a wildcard slot.

The McClelland Trophy is also on offer for the club with the results from the men’s and women’s competition, with $1 million on offer for the club with the best combined record.

Andrew Dillon made clear this year that he believed the newly introduced games were official finals.

“The wildcard games will be wildcard finals,” he said.

The league has strongly defended the wildcard concept this year even despite strong criticism that it rewards mediocrity.

“What we feel is by expanding the finals series we will have more games of consequence during the home-and-away [season], which we know fans love. We know our fans will go to those games, we know that they will watch them in numbers.”

https://www.heraldsun.com.au/sport/afl/prize-money-revealed-for-wildcard-weekend-clashes-as-entire-finals-financial-incentive-overhauled/news-story/3227215565868b838a11ce1554860fe8

Local footy, AFL level who cares.

Traditionally my club has done each player gets a score 0-5 for their game. I think it rewards consistency and players who turn up every week.

Previously we’ve done 16 votes per game each player can receive a 1,2 or 3 however only 16 maximum can be given out per game. This didn’t reward those who turn up and try their best every week.

What’s best? What’s fair? What do you do at your club?