Swans premiership odds blow out after five stars ruled out
Sydney’s AFL premiership hopes have taken a major hit, with bookmakers dramatically slashing the Swans’ title chances after five of the club’s biggest names were ruled out for the remainder of the 2026 season.
The Swans have drifted to $26 to win this year’s premiership following Wednesday morning’s announcement that Isaac Heeney, Chad Warner, Nick Blakey, Riley Bice and James Jordon will not be considered for selection again this season, including during the finals series.
The market reaction was immediate.
Sydney had been trading at single-figure odds with Australian betting sites as recently as last week as one of the genuine premiership contenders. By Tuesday they had eased to around $12, but confirmation of the suspensions sent them tumbling to $26, leaving only Carlton ($34), Collingwood ($67) and the Western Bulldogs ($81) longer shots among the current top 10 teams in premiership betting.
Fremantle has now firmed into outright favouritism at $2.75, ahead of Brisbane ($3.25), Hawthorn ($7), Geelong ($13) and Melbourne ($17).
The Swans announced the sanctions on Wednesday following an internal investigation into an alleged incident in Melbourne that is also the subject of an ongoing Victoria Police investigation.
“Sydney Swans players Riley Bice, Nick Blakey, Isaac Heeney, James Jordon and Chad Warner will not be considered for selection for the remainder of the 2026 AFL Season,” the club said in a statement.
“The AFL is supportive of the Club’s sanctions.
“We respect there is an ongoing investigation by Victoria Police and the actions we have taken today are independent of this.”
The club stressed its decision was based on its own standards and behaviour expectations rather than the police investigation, which remains ongoing. No charges have been laid against the five players.
The suspensions strip Sydney of some of its most influential talent at the worst possible time.
Heeney has been among the competition’s elite midfielders, Warner is one of the AFL’s premier ball winners, while Blakey has become a key part of the Swans’ rebound from defence. Jordon and emerging defender Bice have also been regular contributors during Sydney’s push towards the finals.
The Swans first test post-scandal is against North Melbourne on Sunday, with the Roos now favourites at 1.68 to defeat the second-placed Swans at the SCG.
