Sydney Swans AFLW players who were allegedly caught with cocaine named
The AFLW has been rocked by reports two Sydney Swans players were charged by police after being caught with “a recreational drug”.
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Two Sydney Swans women’s players have been charged over possession of an illicit drug late last year.
Channel 9 AFL reporter Tom Morris broke the news, reporting the substance was “understood to be cocaine”.
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“The Swans are embroiled in a drugs scandal with two AFLW players caught with an illicit substance understood to be cocaine,” Morris said.
“This happened late last year and both players were charged by police in the off-season, and received a conditional release order, which in Victoria is known as a good behaviour bond.
“The AFL says it’s aware of the issue, the Swans declined to comment but it’s understood key officials at the club have been aware for some months.
“This incident was not on game day and therefore does not carry the same offence as, say, Melbourne’s Joel Smith.”
It’s the first such scandal to embroil the AFLW.
A spokesman from the AFL confirmed via Nine Newspapers the league was aware of the charges.
Per The Age, court records show Paige Sheppard and Alexia Hamilton were the two players who were found guilty of possessing a prohibited drug in January, with no conviction recorded.
Sheppard joined the Swans for a second season after moving from the Geelong Falcons VFLW team in 2022.
Hamilton joined the Swans in 2022 after playing three games with the Gold Coast Suns and North Melbourne.
Under the AFL’s illicit drugs policy, any players caught using illegal drugs are given a first strike, as well as a suspended $5000 fine and counselling.
A second strike means a player is publicly named and suspended for four matches.
The AFL’s anti-doping code is the code that focuses on performance-enhancing drugs, but a match-day positive to illicit drugs will trigger an anti-doping violation.
It’s the difference between this alleged incident and the case of Demons player Joel Smith, who tested positive on game day.
The Swans have only played two seasons of the AFLW so far, finishing winless in 2022 before sneaking into the finals in 2023 in eighth, before stunning the Gold Coast in week one of the play-offs before being eliminated by the minor premier Adelaide Crows in the semi-finals.
Originally published as Sydney Swans AFLW players who were allegedly caught with cocaine named
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