Sydney Swan Nick Blakey tells associates he wants to be traded

Suspended Sydney Swans player Nick Blakey has indicated to associates he wants to be traded at the end of the season following a deterioration in his relationship with the club.

Blakey is one of five players serving a club-imposed suspension for breaching the Swans’ behavioural standards last month.

This masthead can report the 26-year-old explored a move to Gold Coast at the end of last season as his girlfriend, Olympic runner Ella Connolly, prepared to relocate to Queensland ahead of the Brisbane 2032 Olympics.

Blakey ultimately chose to remain with the Swans and still has five years left on his contract, which is worth more than $1 million a year.

However, three competition sources not authorised to speak publicly said Blakey and his club had become frustrated with each other since the events at the Pullman East Melbourne.

The club-imposed bans were for partying all night and bringing women back to the team hotel after the round 23 game against Essendon, and are separate from an ongoing Victoria Police investigation into sexual assault allegations made by topless waitresses at the hotel.

The sources said Blakey was angry about the club’s handling of the situation, while the Swans were unhappy with Blakey over his involvement.

The breakdown has reached the point where Blakey wants to continue his career elsewhere in 2027, the sources said, although they acknowledge any trade attempt would be complicated.

Blakey’s management was contacted for comment.

The Swans refused to comment on Blakey’s playing future.

This masthead reported on Wednesday that Swans player Riley Bice had been cleared of any criminal conduct and was now being treated as a potential witness.

Chad Warner, Isaac Heeney, James Jordon and Blakey remain under police investigation. This masthead is not suggesting that the Swans players are guilty of any offences, only that allegations are being investigated. No police charges have been laid.

Victoria Police said on Wednesday another update was not expected for about eight weeks, which would be late October.

The AFL trade period runs from October 5 to 14.

Should Blakey formally request a trade, a deal may have to be negotiated and completed without the parties knowing the ultimate outcome of the police investigation — or what consequences, if any, may follow from the AFL.

Warner becomes a free agent at the end of 2027 and has been linked with a return to his native Western Australia.

This masthead contacted the AFL to ask how it planned to navigate the upcoming trade period in relation to the five suspended players.

A league spokesman declined to comment while the police investigation was ongoing other than to reiterate that it supported the club-imposed bans.

The league has flagged the prospect of taking its own disciplinary action, and has the power to do so after the police investigation is complete under the “conduct unbecoming” rule.

Swans coach Dean Cox said he was in contact with the suspended players and the club was supporting them.

“My first part of the conversation [with the five players] has only been about how they’re going. I haven’t touched on anything to do with the investigation,” Cox said.

“I think that’s the best way to go forward with that. And then from that, what can we do? What can I do to help you through this period?”

In Wednesday’s statement, Victoria Police confirmed three women had made a report about the night at the Pullman and detectives had travelled to Sydney this week to speak to four people.

“That process has now concluded,” police said.

They also said they had spoken to, or would speak to, three men believed to have been in the hotel room at the time of the alleged incident. Those men, police stressed, are being treated solely as witnesses.

Police believe they have identified all parties who were in the room and are not looking for anyone further.

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Sam McClure is an award-winning AFL journalist and broadcaster.Connect via X or email.AdvertisementAdvertisement