Strong crowds turn out as Sydney Swans hit field for first time since alleged sexual assault probe - but some fans walk out: 'Respect women'

Published: 07:20, 23 August 2026 | Updated: 07:28, 23 August 2026 The Sydney Swans have played their first game since the alleged sexual assault scandal rocked the club, with a strong crowd turning out amid fears of a mass walkout.  Large crowds donned red and white to watch the men's team take on North Melbourne at the Sydney Cricket Ground on Sunday. Teammates Chad Warner, Riley Bice, Nick Blakey, James Jordon and Isaac Heeney were noticeably absent with the five players stood down for the remainder of the 2026 AFL season.  The group were suspended after the club found they breached its standards by staying out late, drinking and bringing women back to the Pullman East Melbourne hotel early Monday morning. The suspensions are separate from a Victoria Police investigation into an alleged sexual assault at the hotel. No charges have been laid and all players have denied wrongdoing. Daily Mail does not suggest any of the players are involved in any wrongdoing, just that they spoke to police about the alleged incident. The incident prompted fans to take to social media to encourage others to walk out after the AFLW match, however the number who followed through was much smaller than anticipated, with rows of seats seen empty in several parts of the stadium. Several carried placards and banners to protest the men's team.  Some fans to take to social media to encourage others to walk out of the stadium after the AFLW match, however the number who followed through was much smaller than feared, while only a handful carried placards Large crowds donned red and white to watch the men's team take on North Melbourne at the Sydney Cricket Ground on Sunday One fan raised a banner that read: 'No more d***heads please.' The banner was quickly taken down by security.  Another fan raised the poster: 'Respect all women.' Several fans told AAP they still supported the men's club despite feeling disappointed in players involved in the scandal. 'We support the club wholeheartedly,' Swans supporter Russell Le-Guier said. 'The club itself is what this is about, not the individual players, they'll come and go over the years, but it's the club itself that we support.' Rosalie Le-Guier said she'd be cheering just as loud, if not louder than usual when the men took the field. 'You don't punish the boys in the rest of the team,' she said. Rows of empty seats were seen in several sections of the stadium The number of fans who left the Sydney Cricket Ground was much smaller than anticipated The ALFW match drew in a record, with 16,672 fans watching from the stands 'We're here to support the club. We're here to support the rest of the players.' Another Swans fan, Kate Hipsley said she wouldn't be walking out of the stadium. '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. 'I don't care about the premiership - it's more important than premierships - you care for the the culture of the team, which has taken a huge hit.' Supporter David McGilchrist said he was generally happy with how the club had dealt with the scandal, despite being disappointed. 'I'm disappointed and I've got a bit of anger now as well of what's happened, but a lot of disappointment and massive shock,' he said. 'But I'm here to support the support the girls, the men, the club.' The ALFW match drew in a record, with 16,672 fans watching from the stands. Some were heard chanting in support: 'Sydney, Sydney.'  National Sexual Abuse and Redress Support Service 1800 211 028 Sorry we are not currently accepting comments on this article.