Fan’s banner removed by SCG security during Sydney Swans’ AFLW win over Essendon

Sydney Swans fans came out in droves to support the AFLW team on Sunday ahead of the men’s team’s first match since five teammates were suspended for the rest of the AFL season for breaching club standards.

The women’s clash with Essendon opened Sydney’s first SCG double-header at the end of a difficult week for the club, with no end in sight for the alleged sexual assault scandal.

Potential civil claims are in train with two legal firms engaged by three women who were at the Pullman Hotel with Isaac Heeney, Chad Warner, Nick Blakey, Riley Bice and James Jordon.

7NEWS is not suggesting any wrongdoing. None of the players have been interviewed, arrested or charged by police.

The Swans’ club-imposed bans are independent of the police investigation.

As the fallout continues in the background, attention turned back to football on Sunday.

Fans arrived early at the SCG and some quickly unfurled banners to support the club.

“Be confident. Be courageous. Stand proud even when it hurts,” one read.

The Reddit user who posted the photos wrote: “Well that banner didn’t last long ... barely even three minutes before security came over and took it away.”

The series of photos showed one security guard arrive to speak to the fan and take the banner away.

Some Sydney fans threatened to walk out of the SCG after the AFLW game but a large crowd built throughout ahead of the men’s clash.

The Swans have stuck together since the bans were handed down, with AFLW captain Lucy McEvoy and coach Colin O’Riordan fronting a press conference on Friday after their AFL counterparts Callum Mills and Dean Cox spoke.

“I can appreciate why people would potentially do that but as a club we’re staying united,” AFLW captain Lucy McEvoy said on Friday.

“The best way to get through it is to support us at the moment. As a club, we’ll certainly be uniting as one on the weekend.”