Former Sydney Swans Lisa Steane and Paige Sheppard excelling at Subiaco after departing Swans

Paige Sheppard was the first AFLW player charged with drug possession, but with best mate Lisa Steane by her side the duo has gone from delisted Swans to reborn stars in WA. She breaks her silence to Eliza Reilly.

Former Swans Paige Sheppard (left) and Lisa Steane (right) are loving life at Subiaco this season. Lisa moved to Perth to support partner Bella Smith (middle) at Fremantle. Pic: Lisa Steane Instagram

Paige Sheppard made history for all the wrong reasons last year when she and Sydney teammate Alexia Hamilton became the first AFLW players to be charged with drug possession.

From relative unknowns, having only arrived at the Swans in 2022, the pair were suddenly at the forefront of the football media cycle.

Sheppard and Hamilton were subsequently banned for two games by the AFL after being found guilty of possessing an illegal drug outside a hotel in Sydney’s eastern suburbs.

Now for the first time, Sheppard has spoken publicly about one of the toughest periods of her life.

“It was a big growing and learning experience for myself and for everyone around me,” Sheppard candidly admitted.

“I just took ownership, put my head down and worked hard to show that there was more to it than that.

“People do make mistakes but they don’t define you. It was a tough time. I had to go through a lot with that on and off the field. But I’ve grown as a person on and off the field.”

Paige Sheppard of the Swans looks on from the bench in 2022. Picture: Dylan Burns/AFL Photos via Getty Images.

Throughout the backlash, Sheppard had one shoulder she knew she could always lean on.

Former Swans teammate and her best mate Lisa Steane was there every step of the way.

“People face adversity and make mistakes that aren’t represented in the best way by the media but she took it all in her stride, never took a backwards step and owned up to everything she needed to,” Steane said.

“Then she went about winning back the trust of the group.”

Steane also voiced her frustrations at what she thought was hypocrisy in the way Sheppard’s drug incident was covered in the media, referencing the treatment Sydney mens player Caiden Cleary received when was suspended for two games earlier this year when police caught him trying to buy illicit drugs.

“I don’t know if I’m going to talk out of line by saying this but I’ll say it anyway … you see it’s happened in the Swans men now (Caiden Cleary) and there was one article,” she said.

“It happened to two young women and it was plastered everywhere and they were spoken about in grotesque ways about how horrible they are for making a mistake that others in other sports do.

“It was a unique situation for us to navigate as a whole team and as one of her best friends, I was like you’re not a murderer, you’ve made a mistake but we’re here to play football.

“Unfortunately neither of us got the opportunity to stay at the club but she just handled it like an absolute professional.”

More than a year since the misstep, Sheppard and Steane have rediscovered their love for football although they didn’t initially think it would take a cross-country move to find solace.

When they weren’t offered new contracts by Sydney last year after playing just nine games between them in 2024, the pair knew it wouldn’t be the last time they’d pull on the same jumper. They pitched themselves as a package deal.

Steane’s partner Bella Smith was seeking a trade from the Swans to Fremantle. Former Sydney assistant coach Baker Denneman was now head coach at Subiaco in the WAFLW. And Steane previously played alongside Lions assistant coach Aimee Schmidt at GWS.

The puzzle pieces were falling into place but first they had to ensure that there was room for both of them at Subiaco.

“I spoke to my manager and asked if there was any club in particular they’d recommend,” Steane said. “In terms of player points, we had to find a club that could take Paige and I because we’re a package deal.

“We were moving over here together and I wanted to play with my best friend. We’re an extension at the hip, me and her.

“When Baker found out that Bella was getting traded to Freo, he was straight on the phone like ‘So, are you coming over? I’d love you to play for me’ And I was like ‘I think I am.’

“Once my manager came back and said ‘I’ve heard really good things’ I was like ‘Great because I’ve decided.’”

Lisa Steane and Swans coach Scott Gowans in 2023. Picture: Jason McCawley/Getty Images.

Playing in the midfield for Subiaco, the pair have been one of the catalysts behind the club’s undefeated start to the season. Steane is currently averaging 25.4 disposals a game while Sheppard isn’t far behind with 24.3.

While they never got the chance to show it at Sydney, the pair say their chemistry has come to the fore on the footy field.

“The only opportunity we had at Swans to play in the same line group was when we didn’t get selected and we went and played one of the practice matches,” Steane said. “It was between us, Brisbane, the Giants and Gold Coast and it was one of my favourite games because we got to play in the midfield together.

“Because of the relationship we have, I knew where she was going to be and vice versa. When we realised we were getting delisted, there was the initial disappointment but then there was excitement that we could create our own journey and go and play somewhere together.

Sheppard added: “Our biggest thing was being able to play in the midfield together because at Sydney, we didn’t get that opportunity. When we’re playing and training, we ultimately look for each other and play for each other.

“I think at Sydney, I was obviously a fringe player on the cusp. Here, I’ve grown my game and gotten some confidence back.”

This Saturday, the pair will represent Western Australia in the annual WAFLW vs. SANFLW representative match. Set to be a curtain raiser to the Crows clash with Carlton at Adelaide Oval, the irony isn’t lost on Steane, a New South Welshwoman, and Sheppard, a Victorian, pulling on the black and gold for WA.

”It’s a complete honour,” Sheppard said. “We’re new to the West but it feels like home here.

“We’ll wear that jumper with pride. We get to demonstrate the talent that’s over here in WA.”

Originally published as Former Sydney Swans Lisa Steane and Paige Sheppard excelling at Subiaco after departing Swans