Five banned Sydney Swans players could return to club as early as this week

The five Sydney players at the heart of a police investigation into a Melbourne hotel sex assault are set to return to the club this week.

Isaac Heeney, Chad Warner, Nick Blakey, James Jordon and Riley Bice, who has been cleared of criminal charges, have not been at the football club since being suspended by the Swans for the remainder of the season, independently of the police matter, for breaking curfew after their round 23 victory over Essendon in Melbourne.

There are no details of how they will return and whether it will be for their annual exit meetings now the that Swans’ campaign is over after a defeat to minor premiers Fremantle at the SCG in the preliminary final on Friday night.

It is believed that Blakey is the only member of the ‘Pullman five’ looking to leave the Sydney-based club with the Swans expected to welcome the other four back at some point.

There have been reports that some of the suspended players’ teammates have stayed in touch over the past month with Jordon understood to have recently caught up with a group of Swans players.

West Australian Warner was spotted out and about a few weeks ago and has reiterated his desire to remain in New South Wales despite major interest from West Coast who have attempted to lure him back to his home state in the past and could look to do so again at the end of his current contract in 2027.

The group won’t be around the Swans on Monday night as they have been excluded from attending the Brownlow Medal but remain eligible to win the league’s top award.