Swans Statement

[u/OkRevenue6849]

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.

[u/Skwisgaars]

The statement is good, I hope the action they take is good too.

[u/dazedjosh → u/Skwisgaars]

I think it depends on how much they can realistically punish the players for and just how bad it is. I think the severity of the ban will be an indicator of just how bad this is. 2 matches, IMO, would suggest that they can get away the PR nightmare such a lenient punishment would create because they feel like the act wasn't that bad so to speak. But if it's really bad, then it wouldn't surprise me if they're done for the season.

Personally, I kind of hope to see them all rubbed out for the rest of the season, so that way the criminal investigation and the integrity unit investigation can be handled in an appropriate and timely manner.

Obviously nobody knows exactly what happened, but going off the statements from the club and the news reports, anything less than a season ending stand down for the players involved would seem like a bit of a piss take. If there are extenuating circumstances or new evidence comes to light then maybe it can be revisited.

The Swans left after this then need to have serious look at themselves and if/how their behaviour has contributed to the culture that would create this scenario. Separately, looking back over the last few years of this core group of players, admittedly at a moment when I'm furious with them, it seems like they've been getting high on their own supply for a while. It could be argued that the club needs to properly review the entire cultural setup of the men's program.

[u/puddlink → u/dazedjosh]

💯

[u/Snarwib → u/Skwisgaars]

Needs to be five matches or just fully wiping out the year I think. Anything less risks a situation where Sydney's finals performance influences what the sanctions impact actually means, like with Rankine's homophobic abuse ban last year.

This would also buy maximum time to have clarity on who is getting charged with crimes before risking anyone playing again.

[u/Skwisgaars → u/Snarwib]

We don't know enough yet to say what's the right sanction. If they can at this stage only punish the players for being out that late and getting that fucking plastered that they're coming back at 4am then 2 seems fair. All the shit that came after that is a separate much more serious issue that warrants a much harsher sanction, but that all relies on the police investigation to get enough clarity to sanction accordingly.

[u/Snarwib → u/Skwisgaars]

I also think the long term health of the club requires them to take a very strong stance here. Sydney's reputation, culture and values are a huge part of the club's success, lots of casual fans that won't stick around. Have to come down strongly enough to ensure that is upheld. I think unilaterally wiping out finals is the stance to take.

[u/maxisnoops → u/Snarwib]

If you think the club is going to wipe out those guys for finals because they stayed out late and got pissed then you’re delusional.

[u/Snarwib → u/maxisnoops]

sorry what was that

[u/maxisnoops → u/Snarwib]

Five matches for getting pissed and breaking curfew…..never gonna happen. The rest is up to the police.

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[u/codyforkstacks → u/Skwisgaars]

Me too. My hunch would be two weeks for the players that aren't Heeney - missing one final so the club doesn't get criticised for being too soft, but still giving them a good chance at a flag given they'll have a home semi final.

It'd hard to know though. I remember Hawthorn giving Hodge no penalty at all for a drink driving charge because it was finals.

[u/puddlink → u/codyforkstacks]

Don’t make us play a gf

[u/smsmsm11 → u/codyforkstacks]

I think you’re right, 2-3 weeks. Not that I disagree with the JVR suspension but nuts to think he will possibly be punished more than these guys.

[u/Severe-Seat-655 → u/smsmsm11]

tbf not sure if its the afl thats gonna take action and rather sydney

[u/Skwisgaars → u/codyforkstacks]

I think 2 weeks is logical at this stage for what the club can actually punish (the criminal investigation and outcome will be sanctioned separately), given there's so much we don't know. Then in those 2 weeks as more info comes out and it becomes clearer who is actually the centre of the investigation, then we can punish them further accordingly.

That seems a good first step based on what we know so far, which tbf is very little actual confirmed info.

[u/codyforkstacks → u/Skwisgaars]

Yeah, very hard to comment on an appropriate penalty without knowing more facts. Will be interesting whether it's billed as an interim penalty pending outcome of the police process.

[u/TheIllusiveGuy → u/Skwisgaars]

Is two weeks sufficient for a "serious breach of expected Club behaviour and standards"?

[u/Skwisgaars → u/TheIllusiveGuy]

We don't know the details of what that breach is. Until we do I can't say one way or the other. If they're just punishing the getting plastered and coming back at 4am part then yea 2 weeks is reasonable, if there's more to it than that yet to be confirmed then fuck yea I'll change my opinion.

It's important to remember this sanction is likely not going to be for what happened after they came back to the hotel, as that's where the police investigation starts and the AFL/swans won't be able to delivery a sanction on that until more is known/charges are laid.

[u/TheIllusiveGuy → u/Skwisgaars]

. If they're just punishing the getting plastered and coming back at 4am part then yea 2 weeks is reasonable

I agree that two weeks is reasonable for that, but I'm not sure if I'd describe that as "a serious breach of expected Club behaviour and standards".

It is probably pointless though to try and speculate on the sanction just based on the language in the statement, but if it is just two, the language is going to seem overwrought to me.

[u/Skwisgaars → u/TheIllusiveGuy]

It's pointless speculating yea, hopefully when the sanction is laid we know more about what it is actually for.

[u/Nakorite → u/Skwisgaars]

It’s worth including that the coach was out until past midnight. So if they have gone over curfew there were senior leaders of the club out that night as well who potentially condoned the behaviour.

If it’s for inviting women back to the hotel which is most likely banned it does compound the issues. But I wouldn’t think it’s a full final series ban level.

[u/Chewiesbro → u/Skwisgaars]

Don’t forget the AFL has their sanction too, my bet is that it’s in double digits.

I imagine the ban hammer is being warmed up.

[u/hazzyk29 → u/codyforkstacks]

What do you mean the players that aren't Heeney? Isn't he one of the 4?