September 7, 2026 — 6:42pmThe five suspended Sydney Swans players will have to foot their own substantial legal fees for their roles in the Pullman hotel episode that is under police investigation.Under AFL rules, the five players would have to pay their individual legal costs – not only for legal representation during the ongoing sexual assault investigation – but also for any civil lawsuits threatened by the women who were in the company of the five players in the early hours of August 17 in a hotel room.Sydney Swans players (from left) Chad Warner, James Jordon, Isaac Heeney and Nick Blakey.The AgeTwo AFL sources, speaking anonymously because of the police investigation, have confirmed that the rules governing the league’s salary cap do not allow the club, or people closely associated with the club, to foot the bill for any of the five players – Isaac Heeney, Chad Warner, Nick Blakey, James Jordon and Riley Bice.The five are under club suspension for breaching the Swans’ behavioural standards for the remainder of this season, with police having cleared Bice of any criminal wrongdoing.This masthead previously reported all five denied criminal wrongdoing, and no charges have been laid.The AFL Players’ Association has provided some support for the players, but cannot financially contribute to their legal costs.The bills facing four of the players – police are treating Bice only as a witness – would escalate if they reach settlements with the women, who have engaged lawyers and indicated they would potentially seek compensation.Blakey has told associates he wants to be traded at season’s end.Getty ImagesSettlements, too, cannot be covered by the club under the AFL’s rules for the salary cap.Each of the five players has engaged his own lawyer to handle the investigation.The strict AFL rules on paying for players’ legal costs also prohibit a wealthy club benefactor – if they have a clear connection to the club – footing the legal bills.Separately, the Swans are undecided on whether the suspended players will be eligible for votes and awards in the club best and fairest.The AFL has banned them from attending the Brownlow count during grand final week but the players are still eligible to win it.The AFL may not reach a position on whether the five players can be traded during the October trade period.In effect this might leave that decision, and the associated risks, with the clubs who entertain trading for any of them. The Swans have not guaranteed their positions with the club next year as they wait for the police investigation to take its course.The AFL declined to comment on its position on any potential trades.Blakey, as reported in this masthead, has told associates that he could entertain a move to another club as a result of dissatisfaction with how he has been handled in the scandal.The police have indicated a timeline for the investigation suggesting that it is not likely to be completed before the trade period, saying last week they did not expect to provide another update for eight weeks. This creates a challenge for any parties considering a trade for any of the four (with Bice now excluded).Jake Niall is a Walkley award-winning sports journalist and chief AFL writer for The Age.Connect via X or email.From our partners