Sydney Swans members today received the below letter from Sydney Swans Chairman Andrew Pridham and Sydney Swans CEO Matthew Pavlich. 

Read it below.

First and foremost, we wish to sincerely apologise for the distress recent incidents involving players from the Club have caused our members, supporters, corporate partners, Academy families, staff, athletes and their families, and the wider community. Our priority is care, respect and support for those affected. 

Many of you have shared your deep concerns with us. We take the concerns you have raised seriously. Our culture was built over many years through the values and actions of our people and in particular our players who held themselves to a high standard. That is why these events have cut so deeply, both inside the Club and for everyone who cares about it. 

We write to inform you on the actions we have taken following the issuing of the sanctions against five of our players in August. Our Board commissioned a comprehensive examination of the Club’s AFL program in early September; a thorough analysis of the current state and examining the environment required for long term trust and success. 

This process is well underway and is expected to be completed by the end of the year, with the Board establishing a clear set of objectives. The core objective is to deliver recommendations and actions to achieve meaningful change wherever necessary.

The process consists of three key phases:

• Interviews with all AFL players and staff conducted by the CEO and Executive General Manager People;
• The Club's annual AFL end of season review; and
• A Board endorsed independent process to provide advice on the Club’s various protocols and programs and undertake broader club-wide engagement involving AFL and AFLW players, staff, commercial teams and key stakeholders. This phase will be conducted by Intersection, led by the advisor Natasha de Silva.

What is already clear from our work to-date is that the actions and attitudes of some within our club has damaged and diminished the many great things we do, and the great people who do them. This is unacceptable and must change. 

We have a long and proud history but clearly, we have work to do to get back to the standards we have long set. We will make the necessary changes that are required and will work to be better. 

The standards we expect of every player and employee, on and off the field, are central to who we are. They reflect the behaviour rightly expected of professional athletes and public role models. The incident involving Tom Papley this week and the separate incident in Melbourne in August, fall a long way short of those expectations.

We acknowledge the impact these mistakes are having on our AFLW players and staff, and they continue to have our full support.  The team’s upcoming Elimination Final against the Western Bulldogs is a significant opportunity, earned through hard work.  Their success deserves celebration without distraction. We encourage all members and supporters to get behind the team at Henson Park on Sunday in our first ever home final and afford them the recognition they have earned.

We know that moving forward will take time, and that every member of our community will process this in their own way. Rebuilding trust will not come from our words, but rather our actions. We do not take your support for granted, and we are committed to doing the work required to uphold the values and standards we expect of everyone at the Sydney Swans.  

We look forward to keeping you informed.

Yours sincerely, 

Andrew Pridham and Matthew Pavlich

Chairman and CEO