Former AFL and current Adelaide SANFL player Blake Drury was secretly suspended, alongside Central Districts vice-captain Aiden Grace, for "vulgar" comments directed at a woman.

During a photoshoot in the lead-up to the May 17 interstate match between South Australia and Western Australia, the pair were revealed to be making "explicit remarks about a female SANFL staff member in the room", and were caught on a microphone.

Drury and Grace were suddenly withdrawn from the state clash, with no reason given as to why at the time, with Channel 7 since bringing the reasons to light.

"Wearing microphones at a photoshoot in the lead-up to the recent state game against WA, the pair didn't realise the camera was rolling when they made sexually explicit remarks about a female SANFL staff member in the room," reporter Josh Money said.

"It was the victim herself who later discovered the comments, which are too vulgar to report.

"The league told 7News it was unacceptable conduct that was investigated, that saw both players sanctioned.

"The pair were mysteriously withdrawn from the SA team the day before the May 17 clash with Western Australia."

"Both men have since sent written apologies to the woman involved, and have received education around respect for women."

It is understood that Adelaide was "angered" by the incident and was in full support of the punishment handed down by the SANFL.

Drury, who was delisted by North Melbourne at the end of 2024, was hopeful of receiving an AFL lifeline at Wednesday night's Mid-Season Draft, but was overlooked.