‘Remorseful’ Swans suspended by AFL after drugs bombshell as details of off-season incident revealed

Sydney Swans AFLW players Alexia Hamilton and Paige Sheppard have been suspended for two matches by the AFL.

It follows the revelation that they were charged by police late last year in relation to possessing an illicit substance.

The AFL says the pair have appeared in court and received reprimands, as well as interviewed with the AFL’s Integrity Unit.

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AFLW players are not beholden to the AFL’s Illicit Drug Policy, therefore ‘no notifiable adverse finding’ will be made against Hamilton nor Sheppard.

As part of a Sydney media release on Tuesday, Sheppard said: “I would like to express my remorse and apologise to the Sydney Swans family, my teammates, family and friends for making this mistake.

“I am fully aware I have made a bad error of judgement and will be working hard to earn back the respect of my teammates.”

Hamilton, meantime, said: “I am extremely embarrassed and apologetic for my actions, and the position I have put my family, friends and teammates in.

“I understand I have significantly broken trust, and I apologise to our members, fans and club partners for that. I accept full responsibility for my actions.”

“AFLW players, in fact all players are well-educated when it comes to the harms associated with the use of illicit substances,” AFL General Counsel Stephen Meade said in a league statement on Tuesday.

“While Alexia and Paige have been extremely remorseful and apologetic for their actions, they have a responsibility to themselves, their clubs, and their professional careers to uphold community expectations.

“Our review, in collaboration with the AFLPA, of the AFL’s Illicit Drug Policy continues. The AFL’s expectation is that that AFLW players will be part of any future policy. In these circumstances, both players have been dealt with under the AFL Rules and the accountability both publicly and privately is appropriate.”

Nine’s Tom Morris initially reported the development.

“The Swans are embroiled in a drugs scandal with two AFLW players caught with an illicit substance understood to be cocaine,” Morris said.

“This happened late last year and both players were charged by police in the off-season, and received a conditional release order, which in Victoria is known as a good behaviour bond.

“The AFL says it’s aware of the issue, the Swans declined to comment but it’s understood key officials at the club have been aware for some months.

“This incident was not on gameday and therefore does not carry the same offence as, say, Melbourne’s Joel Smith.”