Sydney Swans draw record AFLW crowd at SCG as hundreds walk out before men’s match
Sydney Swans fans turned out in record numbers at the Sydney Cricket Ground on Sunday, 23 August 2026, to watch the club’s AFLW side, but hundreds streamed out of the ground before the men’s fixture.
The weekend followed a tumultuous week for the Swans after the club stood down Isaac Heeney, Nick Blakey, Chad Warner, Riley Bice and James Jordon for the rest of the season for breaching club standards, including drinking and bringing women back to their hotel after their round 23 win over Essendon. Victoria police are investigating an alleged sexual assault said to have occurred early on 17 August at a Pullman hotel in East Melbourne where the Sydney Swans were staying. None of the stood-down players have been arrested or charged, and much about the allegations remains unknown. “We are deeply sorry to everyone involved,” they said. “We know that our behaviour has fallen well short of the standards expected of us and the values of our club.”
Sydney’s AFLW team beat Essendon by 24 points in front of a club-record AFLW crowd of 16,672, and it was the first occasion Sydney’s AFLW and AFL teams shared a double-header at the SCG. Despite the attendance for the women’s game, the substantial early exit by supporters reduced the audience present for the men’s match later in the day.
Some lifelong Swans members described mixed feelings about staying for the second game. “I’m only planning to stay for the women’s game and then leaving before the men’s game,” said Shayal, who has been a member for over 10 years. Daniel, a member for 26 years, said he would remain: “I will be watching both. It’s ultimately a club. It’s ultimately both teams,” he said. “I think it’s the fact that those five players are not out there which made me comfortable to stay to watch the men’s game.” Kate Hipsley said she would not be walking out: “As far as we know, the men playing in the men’s game have not done anything wrong and they will be hurting as well,” she said.
Inside the SCG supporters vocally backed the AFLW players, cheering goals and key plays, while stadium merchandise and match-day visuals reflected the off-field controversy. There was no sign of Heeney, Warner or Blakey on merchandise for sale or on T-shirts and hats worn by fans, and large posters that would usually feature Heeney have been covered by posters focused on men’s captain Callum Mills or simply “SWANS” in large font. Some fans held signs supporting women, including one that read: "The Swans are nothing without W." A banner that read "no more dickheads please" was removed from a stand by SCG security during the AFLW game; the banner appeared to reference Sydney’s "no dickheads" recruiting policy during the time when Paul Roos was coach, part of the club’s renowned "bloods culture".
The club’s turmoil appeared to affect the atmosphere and turnout for the men’s match, with the usual parochial cheers replaced by polite applause as the Sydney players ran out to face North Melbourne. The Swans have averaged 36,367 fans at their previous 11 home games at the SCG this year, and a noticeable number of seats remained vacant deep into the first term, indicating a reduced level of support after the week’s events.
The men’s side closed out its regular season against North Melbourne. Additional reporting by Martin Pegan and Australian Associated Press.