Isaac Heeney wins Sydney Swans MVP award amid investigation

Isaac Heeney has won his third Bob Skilton Medal, the Sydney Swans’ best and fairest award, which the club recently renamed the Most Valuable Player award. Heeney accepted the honour via a pre-recorded video, in which he apologised to his teammates, staff, and the AFLW players for the “extreme difficulty” caused by recent events.

The award ceremony has drawn criticism from sexual assault advocates, such as Full Stop Australia, regarding the club's decision to allow players under police investigation to remain eligible for polling. Heeney, along with teammates Chad Warner, Nick Blakey, and James Jordon, were among the top ten finalists. The four players were previously suspended by the club for breaching behavioural standards following an incident at the Pullman Hotel in East Melbourne on August 17.

Victoria Police are currently conducting an ongoing investigation into allegations of sexual assault involving three exotic dancers at the hotel. While the players were interviewed by detectives, no charges have been laid, and all four men deny any wrongdoing. Swans chair Andrew Pridhman stated that “player conduct and performance are very separate matters.”