In the very unlikely event that Sydney's Isaac Heeney wins the 2026 Brownlow Medal, Swans chief executive Matthew Pavlich will accept the award and deliver a speech written by the star midfielder.
Heeney, along with Nick Blakey, Chad Warner, Riley Bice and James Jordon, were all suspended by the club following their involvement in the scandal last month at the Pullman Hotel.
AFL boss Andrew Dillon confirmed all five would not be invited to Monday's proceedings, but remained eligible for the award.
Although Collingwood superstar Nick Daicos is tipped to finally take home the Brownlow after falling close on the past three occasions, there is a world where Heeney could rival the vote-getters.
“There is actually a plan for what happens if Isaac Heeney wins the Brownlow Medal tonight,” media personality Kane Cornes said on SEN, who also works for Channel Seven.
“I can tell you that Matthew Pavlich will accept Heeney's Brownlow Medal tonight, and Matthew Pavlich will also read out the speech should — and it's very unlikely — Isaac Heeney be the Brownlow medallist.”
Heeney played 20 games in 2026 and ranks second in player ratings, according to Wheeloratings.
He has recorded an average of 18.73 player rating points, sitting behind Marcus Bontempelli (18.83) but ahead of Nick Daicos (18.07).
For the first time, AFL umpires will use 17 different statistics to help inform their decisions in determining the three best players each week.
In 2024, Heeney pulled an average of 17.3 player rating points for 28 Brownlow Medal votes.
However, the AFL's contingency plan is expected to be moot given Daicos' raging favouritism.
The Pies' son-of-a-gun has come third in 2023 (28 votes), second in 2024 (38) and second last year (32), with Lachie Neale, Patrick Cripps and Matt Rowell taking home the award.
Fellow star midfielders Marcus Bontempelli and Bailey Smith are expected to poll well, but none are tipped to reach the heights of Daicos.
