Sydney Swans pair suspended by league after drug charges

The AFL has handed down its punishment to two Sydney AFLW players caught with an illicit substance late last year.

Sydney AFLW players Paige Sheppard and Alexia Hamilton say they are “embarrassed” and “remorseful” after receiving two-match bans for being caught with an illicit substance late last year.

The AFL confirmed on Tuesday the Swans pair would be suspended for “conduct unbecoming” under the same rule which has been used to ban men’s players for off-field drug-related transgressions.

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Police charged Sheppard and Hamilton with possession of an illicit substance while outside a hotel in Sydney’s Eastern Suburbs in December last year.

The players have since faced court and were handed 12-month conditional release orders, with no conviction recorded.

The AFL said Sheppard and Hamilton had admitted to the charges when interviewed by the league’s integrity unit after their court appearances.

Despite the significantly shorter season length, the duo were handed two-match bans in line with the suspensions issued in the last three years to AFL players Elijah Hollands, Jack Ginnivan and Bailey Smith for breaching the same rule.

Alexia Hamilton has been banned for two AFLW matches. Picture: Dylan Burns / Getty Images

Paige Sheppard was handed the same punishment. (Photo by Quinn Rooney/Getty Images via AFL Photos)

Neither Sheppard or Hamilton will have a strike recorded against them under the AFL’s illicit drug policy framework as it does not currently apply to AFLW players, the league said in a statement.

The incident occurred after the Swans’ season concluded and was not connected to a game day, unlike Melbourne AFL player Joel Smith’s ongoing case involving a positive test for cocaine.

It’s understood the pair will be allowed to play for Sydney in VFLW matches before the AFLW season, and their suspensions, begin.

AFL general counsel Stephen Meade said the suspensions were appropriate for both players to uphold community standards.

“AFLW players, in fact all players, are well-educated when it comes to the harms associated with the use of illicit substances,” Meade said.

“While Alexia and Paige have been extremely remorseful and apologetic for their actions, they have a responsibility to themselves, their clubs and their professional careers to uphold community expectations.

Hamilton in action during an elimination final against the Suns last season. (Photo by Dylan Burns/AFL Photos)

“Our review, in collaboration with the AFLPA, of the AFL’s Illicit Drug Policy continues. The AFL’s expectation is that AFLW players will be part of any future policy.

“In these circumstances, both players have been dealt with under the AFL rules and the accountability both publicly and privately is appropriate.”

Sheppard said the incident had been a “bad error of judgment”.

“I would like to express my remorse and apologise to the Sydney Swans family, my teammates, family and friends for making this mistake,” she said.

“I am fully aware I have made a bad error of judgment and will be working hard to earn back the respect of my teammates.”

Hamilton said she was committed to regaining the trust of her teammates after the sanctions.

“I am extremely embarrassed and apologetic for my actions and the position I have put my family, friends and teammates in,” she said.

“I understand I have significantly broken trust and I apologise to our members, fans and club partners for that. I accept full responsibility for my actions.”

Originally published as Sydney Swans pair suspended by league after drug charges