AFL

Swans name eight replacements for banned five

By Oliver Caffrey

Aug 20, 2026

James Rowbottom is one of eight replacement Swans named in an extended squad for Sydney. -AAP Image

Sydney have made eight inclusions in a week of crisis where Isaac Heeney, Chad Warner, Nick Blakey, James Jordon and Riley Bice were banned for the rest of the season.

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The Swans have brought James Rowbottom, Angus Sheldrick, Tom Hanily, Harry Cunningham, Caiden Cleary, Patrick Snell, Malcolm Rosas and Corey Warner - the younger brother of Chad - into an extended squad for Sunday's game against North Melbourne at the SCG.

Due to it being a Sunday match, the Swans don't need to finalise their 23 until Friday afternoon.

It will be the first time Sydney have taken to the field since the scandal at the Pullman Hotel emerged on Monday.

Although Sydney are guaranteed to finish in second and have two home finals, club chairman Andrew Pridham admitted the Swans had "torpedoed" their season by banning the five players.

Heeney, Warner and Blakey are among their most important players, with the former probably their two best.

Minor premiers Fremantle have decided to rest three players for Saturday's match against Carlton at Marvel Stadium.

Star forward Jye Amiss, Heath Chapman and Sam Switkowski didn't make the trip to Melbourne and have been listed as managed.

Judd McVee and Bailey Banfield return, while Tobyn Murray has been given a debut on the eve of finals.

The Blues, who will finish in a wildcard spot, will be without Nick Haynes and Will Hayward due to injury.

Collingwood have opted against resting anyone for Friday night's clash with the Brisbane Lions at the MCG.

Locked into a wildcard final at the MCG, the Magpies appeared certain to rest some of their most important players given they won't have the pre-finals bye.

Veterans Jeremy Howe (arm) and Steele Sidebottom (illness) are the only inclusions, while Noah Howes (omitted) and Isaac Quaynor (glute) go out.

The Lions have recalled young swingman Ty Gallop, who is available after serving his three-game suspension for serious misconduct against Port Adelaide forward Mitch Georgiades.

Geelong have welcomed back star forward Jeremy Cameron for Saturday night's match against Richmond.

Cameron has been missing since hurting his AC joint six weeks ago.

The Western Bulldogs have brought back captain Marcus Bontempelli for Saturday's match against Melbourne.

Bontempelli was rested for last week's clash with Carlton.

But veteran Tom Liberatore has been rested for the Bulldogs.