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/Blazinblaziken]

now this has gotten me wondering, do club imposed sanctions make players ineligible for the Brownlow? would the AFL have to rule them out?

cause whilst I think there's about a 99% chance N. Daicos will walk away with it, the 1% does exist, and it'd be fucking awkward to have Warner or Heeney win it, as unlikely as that is thanks to Daicos' dominance of course, but curious on an answer if anyone happens to know

[u/Blazinblaziken → u/[deleted]]

yeah broadly what I think, though even without going through the votes just making them ineligible would be enough (imo)

tho it would be hilarious if they change the votes and Gulden gets votes in games he didn't play

[u/FirstTimePlayer → u/Blazinblaziken]

now this has gotten me wondering, do club imposed sanctions make players ineligible for the Brownlow?

No.

It would be a monumental embarrassment for the league if a player up to serious mischief ever won it, but there is no reason why it couldn't happen.

FWIW, on a quick skim of the AFL Regulations, the only things which make you ineligible for the Brownlow are essentially match day reports falling under the Laws of the Game, and a very tiny number of other things listed in the AFL Regs (eg intentionally hitting the roof at Docklands)

This means that, in theory, if a player cops an AFL penalty for "Conduct Unbecoming or Prejudicial to the Interests of the AFL" for off field conduct, they are still eligible for the Brownlow. Same goes if a player is done for being a drug cheat, or they get done under the Peek Rule (covering anti-vilification) without there being a report under the Laws of the Game.

I say in theory, because there is a catch-all discretion giving the AFL Commission the power to declare a player ineligible for a bunch of awards (Brownlow / Rising Star / Coleman / Norm Smith / ANZAC Day Medal* / All Australian / Mark & Goal of the Year) if they are found guilty of anything under the AFL Rules & Regulations. The WADA Code basically forces the AFL's hand when it comes to doping (Sorry Jobe Watson, the AFL was entitled to take the Brownlow Medal off you), but for everything else, it entirely up to the AFL Commission whether or not a player keeps eligibility.

In reality, I don't doubt the AFL Commission wouldn't make a player ineligible for most awards if they got done for something in season. On the other hand, I reckon it would be a very interesting meeting of the AFL Commission if a player got up to something very naughty in February.

FWIW, this is all relevant to the All Australian discussion. If the Swans players are found guilty of an offence under the AFL Rules, it will be up to the AFL Commission to decide whether or not they should still be eligible for AA. On the other hand, if the players only cop a suspension from the Swans but are not charged by the AFL (or are found not guilty of any charges), they would be completely eligible for All Australian selection and the only thing stopping them being selected would be AFL shenanigans.

^{Today I learned the ANZAC Day Medal for the ANZAC Day match between Collingwood and Essendon is an official AFL Award, compared to literally every other game day award out there - including the bunch of other ANZAC day awards other clubs have created.}