September 3, 2026 — 12:10pm
Sydney Swans coach Dean Cox says he remains in contact with the five players suspended by the club but has not spoken to them about attending Saturday’s qualifying final against Brisbane at the SCG.
Speaking at a media conference on Thursday, Cox also said that while the club complies with the AFL’s illicit drugs policy, he was unaware whether the players had been independently drug-tested.
“We adhere to the illicit drug policy, so that’s one thing that the footy club always do, you know, with the testing of that. I’m not privy to any of that information,” Cox said.
On August 19, five Swans AFL players – James Jordon, Chad Warner, Isaac Heeney, Riley Bice and Nick Blakey – were stood down for breaching club standards earlier that week, including drinking, staying out late and bringing women back to a Melbourne hotel.
