The AFL will not invite five Sydney Swans players—Isaac Heeney, Nick Blakey, Chad Warner, Riley Bice and James Jordon—to this year’s Brownlow Medal ceremony due to the club sanctions and an ongoing police investigation into an alleged sexual assault at a Melbourne hotel.

Despite the attendance ban, the players remain eligible to vote for and win the Brownlow Medal should the club suspension lift by season’s end.

Dee Salmin, partner of Collingwood captain Darcy Moore, has announced she will boycott the Brownlow Medal this year, citing concerns about the AFL’s handling of women, gender-based violence, and broader culture issues within the sport.

Salmin’s stance is framed as part of a broader AFL culture debate and could influence how the event is received by fans and stakeholders.

The publication timestamp shows the report was released on September 1, 2026, early this morning.

The Age published the article and included related video and adjacent sports stories to provide readers with broader context.

Salmin says she admires some people in the sport but stresses the need for substantial cultural change in the AFL’s treatment of women and gender-based issues.

She reiterates affection for certain individuals yet maintains that criticism of the broader culture is necessary and change is essential in the AFL’s attitude toward women.

Darcy Moore, a Collingwood captain and AFL Players’ Association figure, along with Salmin, has publicly supported consent and respectful relationships initiatives.

Dillon says the AFL is focusing on the finals period to unite the football community, stressing that the actions of a few should not overshadow the sport’s overall positive contributions.

AFL Chief Executive Andrew Dillon says the league will respect the police investigation and conduct its own inquiry thereafter, underscoring that respect for women is non-negotiable.

The Swans’ recent off-field incident added to coverage as they prepared for a qualifying final against Brisbane at the SCG.