Isaac Heeney wins Bob Skilton medal as Swans back suspended players' legal case
Despite a police investigation, Isaac Heeney won the Swans' top award and the club said the five suspended players deserve presumption of innocence.
Sydney Swans chairman Andrew Pridham said the five players under investigation for an alleged incident at Melbourne's Pullman Hotel "strenuously deny the allegations" and deserve the presumption of innocence.
Isaac Heeney, Chad Warner, Nick Blakey, James Jordon and Riley Bice remain stood down for breaching club standards but remained eligible for awards. Heeney won the Bob Skilton medal.
Pridham said the club's punishment was separate from the police investigation and the players were not being judged on allegations still before authorities. The chairman acknowledged the decision to eventually reintegrate them had not been universally supported within the club.
- 5 (Heeney, Warner, Blakey, Jordon, Bice)
- Suspended players
- Isaac Heeney, Bob Skilton medal
- Award winner
- Victoria Police
- Investigation authority
Why it mattersThe club is publicly backing the players' legal position while maintaining discipline, signalling how it will handle the case as police investigate.
AustraliaThe Sydney Swans' approach will shape how Australian professional sports clubs respond to players facing allegations during ongoing investigations.
Corroborated by7news.com.au
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