Sydney Swans player Nick Blakey seeks trade amid suspensions and police investigation
Consensus Summary
Five Sydney Swans players, including Nick Blakey, were suspended for breaching club behavioural standards after the Round 23 game against Essendon in August, separate from an ongoing Victoria Police investigation into sexual assault allegations at the Pullman Hotel. Blakey, a 26-year-old according to THEAGE and SMH, is seeking a trade at the end of the season, with reports suggesting he wants to leave in 2027. His contract runs for five more years and is worth over $1 million annually. Blakey previously considered moving to Gold Coast due to his girlfriend’s relocation for the Brisbane 2032 Olympics but ultimately stayed. The AFL trade period runs from October 5 to 14, but police expect no update on their investigation for about eight weeks, potentially complicating any trade negotiations. Teammate James Rowbottom, a 25-year-old midfielder, has supported Blakey as a housemate but has not discussed trade details with him. The suspensions have left a void in the Swans’ midfield, with Rowbottom and others stepping up to fill the gap.
✓ Verified by 2+ sources
Key details reported by multiple sources:
- Nick Blakey is a 26-year-old suspended Sydney Swans player seeking a trade at the end of the season
- Blakey is one of five Swans players suspended for breaching club behavioural standards after the Round 23 game against Essendon in August
- The suspensions are separate from an ongoing Victoria Police investigation into sexual assault allegations at the Pullman Hotel after the Round 23 game
- No charges have been laid against the five suspended players (Blakey, Heeney, Warner, Jordon, Bice)
- James Rowbottom, a 25-year-old Sydney midfielder, has supported Blakey as a housemate and teammate, but has not discussed trade details with him
- Rowbottom missed two weeks due to a broken hand and returned for the Round 24 game against North Melbourne
- The AFL trade period runs from October 5 to 14, with Victoria Police expecting no update on the investigation for about eight weeks (late October)
- Blakey has five years left on his contract, worth more than $1 million a year
- Blakey explored a move to Gold Coast at the end of last season due to his girlfriend’s relocation for the Brisbane 2032 Olympics
Points of Difference
Details reported by only one source:
- Rowbottom has played for the Swans for the last eight years or so, taking on various roles this season
- The suspended players will not be at the SCG for the club’s qualifying final against Brisbane on Saturday
- The qualifying final against Brisbane Lions is scheduled for Saturday at 3:15pm AEST
- Rowbottom and Errol Gulden will be heavily relied upon in the absence of the suspended players
- Blakey wants to continue his career elsewhere in 2027, though any trade attempt would be complicated by the ongoing police investigation
- Chad Warner becomes a free agent at the end of 2027 and has been linked with a return to Western Australia
- Victoria Police confirmed three women made reports about the night at the Pullman, and detectives spoke to four people this week
- Victoria Police stated they have spoken to or will speak to three men believed to have been in the hotel room at the time of the alleged incident, treating them solely as witnesses
Where the reporting differs
Details that conflict, or appear in only some outlets:
- 7NEWS and ABC describe Nick Blakey as a 25-year-old, while THEAGE and SMH describe him as a 26-year-old
- THEAGE and SMH mention Blakey explored a move to Gold Coast at the end of last season, but do not specify the exact year, while 7NEWS and ABC do not mention this detail
- THEAGE and SMH state Blakey wants to continue his career elsewhere in 2027, but 7NEWS and ABC do not explicitly mention this timeline
Source Articles
Sydney midfielder James Rowbottom supporting housemate Nick Blakey without talking about trade rumours
There is speculation surrounding the future of Nick Blakey after the alleged hotel scandal.
Sydney Swan Nick Blakey tells associates he wants to be traded
Blakey is one of five players serving a club-imposed suspension for breaching the Swans’ behavioural standards last month.
How Swans midfielder is supporting banned housemate amid trade rumours
Sydney midfielder James Rowbottom is in a unique spot as banned star Nick Blakey's housemate, and says he is attempting to "separate the person from the problem".
Sydney Swan Nick Blakey tells associates he wants to be traded
Blakey is one of five players serving a club-imposed suspension for breaching the Swans’ behavioural standards last month.
More Sport stories
North Melbourne sacks Alastair Clarkson with one year left on contract
Jai Arrow's emotional return for South Sydney's 100th NRL game milestone
Alex de Minaur's early US Open exit and Dane Sweeny's upset win
Australian Dane Sweeny upsets Lorenzo Musetti at US Open second round
Fremantle's 32-point loss to Hawthorn in qualifying final
Darius Boyd appointed as new Queensland Maroons coach after Billy Slater's exit
Latest cross-verified stories
Australia's record-breaking warm winter and early spring heatwave in 2026
Queensland farmer Darryl Young convicted of triple murder and attempted murder at Bogie cattle station
Catastrophic Nepal-Tibet floods leave hundreds dead, thousands missing, including Australians
One Nation wins Secret Harbour WA by-election, signaling political shift in Australia
Lindsay Clancy trial for murder of her three children in 2023 and debate over postpartum psychosis
Sentencing hearing for Molly Ticehurst's murderer Daniel Billings in NSW Supreme Court
Browse all stories from September 2026 in the archive.