Sydney have stood down five players for the remainder of the AFL season – including finals – in the wake of what the club described as a “serious breach of expected club behaviour and standards”.

Isaac Heeney, Chad Warner, Nick Blakey, James Jordon and Riley Bice will be banned from playing for the rest of the year.

In a statement released on Wednesday morning, the club said the quintet “will not be considered for selection for the remainder of the 2026 AFL season” in a decision made separate to the sexual assault investigation being conducted by Victoria Police.

“The AFL is supportive of the club’s sanctions,” the Swans statement said.

“We respect there is an ongoing investigation by Victoria Police and the actions we have taken today are independent of this.”

Speaking later in the day after revealing the suspensions, Swans chair Andrew Pridham apologised to everyone impacted and said the players were “extremely remorseful for their actions”.

Pridham said in arriving at the suspension decision, the board felt it was important that they set a “very high standard and bar in terms of the seriousness of this matter” with a “very significant sanction”.

“Clearly something has gone wrong. They shouldn’t have been in that situation of being out that late,” he said.

“The only way we can deal with it is to put our foot down incredibly hard, which we’ve done.

“As a football club, that is our business. And to effectively torpedo our season by making this decision tells you how seriously we’re taking it.”

The sanctions come in the wake of a Swans board meeting on Tuesday night as Victoria Police continue to investigate allegations of sexual assault at the Pullman East Melbourne hotel on Monday morning.

This masthead is not suggesting the players are guilty of any wrongdoing, just that they are assisting police with enquiries.

The suspensions are set to have a significant impact on second-placed Sydney’s hopes of winning this year’s premiership.

Heeney is the club’s leader among votegetters in the AFL Coaches Association’s Champion Player of the Year award, while Warner, Blakey and Jordon have featured in every game this season.

None of the five suspended players were pictured among those to arrive at the club on Wednesday morning.

When coach Dean Cox arrived at Sydney HQ on Wednesday, and was asked if there was still a feeling of disappointment in the club, Cox said: “Yeah, there is”.

The bans come after Sydney had on Tuesday evening released a statement saying they would take “firm action”, having concluding their interviews with the players involved.

“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 statement said.

“The club also acknowledges that these serious allegations impact others and their wellbeing must be paramount.”

The Swans face North Melbourne this week before opening their postseason campaign with a home qualifying final, most likely against Brisbane or Hawthorn.

AFL chief executive Andrew Dillon said the conduct and serious allegations regarding Swans players was “deeply concerning” in a statement late on Tuesday.

“While the matter remains under police investigation, it raises broader issues for our game and our responsibilities as a sport,” he said.

“The woman who made the report to police is entitled to privacy and care, and that should be respected.

“It is important that the police process is allowed to run its course.”

• 1800 RESPECT: 1800 737 732
• National Sexual Abuse and Redress Support Service: 1800 211 028