I played for the Sydney Swans. Time will tell what the club truly values

August 19, 2026 — 11:26am

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On the walls somewhere at the Sydney Swans’ HQ would be a series of words; a set of values that the club stands for or, at least, believes that they do. At one stage those words were hard, disciplined, united. I’m sure they are now something different yet just as vague.

Every football club does this exercise in identity. They think long and hard about values then place them somewhere by the entrance, or in the change room, so that 50 times a day, players and staff are confronted by the words in the hope that they seep into their minds and create a culture.

As a former Swans player, I am devastated that a group of players could make a series of choices that create this situation.

The pre-emptive caveat against any backlash for appearing to prioritise a man’s football career over a woman’s wellbeing: “Yes, we’re a football show, so we have to do our due diligence on how this will impact the season.”

My caveat: I do not have one ounce of care for the impact this will have on the Swans’ season or anything football-related. This is a game that involves chasing a ball around an oval........

© The Sydney Morning Herald