Sydney chief executive Matthew Pavlich has shown remorse again in addressing the Swans faithful and wider public of another off-field scandal following forward Tom Papley's alleged positive test to an illicit substance during a roadside drug test.
The Swans confirmed the Board commissioned a comprehensive examination of the club's AFL program in early September following the Pullman Hotel incident, setting clear objectives. The process consists of three key phases:
- Interviews with all AFL players and staff conducted by the CEO and Executive General Manager People;
- The Club's annual AFL end-of-season review;
- A Board-endorsed independent process to provide advice on the Club's various protocols and programs and undertake broader club-wide engagement involving AFL and AFLW players, staff, commercial teams and key stakeholders. This phase will be conducted by Intersection, led by the advisor Natasha de Silva.
The Swans found: "What is already clear from our work to-date is that the actions and attitudes of some within our club has damaged and diminished the many great things we do, and the great people who do them. This is unacceptable and must change," a letter to members from Pavlich and club president Andrew Pridham said.
Papley was driving with a suspended licence due to non-payment of a parking fine. A second sample of the drug test has been taken for analysis and will take at least four weeks.
“We apologise unreservedly to our members, fans, and corporate partners. We've let them down again. We must be better. It's a really disappointing time for the footy club," Pavlich said, according to the Herald Sun.
Papley's indiscretion was the second of its kind in the past two months, with five Sydney players embroiled in the Pullman Hotel saga leading into the finals campaign.
“We've been identifying that over the last eight weeks. We've started some deep work in that with our AFL men's department. Independent advisers are helping us through that. They're the questions we're asking ourselves right now, and asking our players,” Pavlich said.
The recent incidents have put the Bloods' culture into question, which has been renowned for upholding strong standards.
“They're angry, (but) they're supportive,” Pavlich said.
“They know that over a long period of time the club has upheld really high standards, and I can guarantee them and everyone we'll continue to do that.
“We need to be better. This is not something that anyone is stopping short of knowing that we've got a long way to go. We've got some deep work to do to understand how we do get better for the future.”
The NSW Police released a statement on Wednesday night regarding the incident.
“At about 10.30 am on Monday, traffic and highway patrol officers stopped a vehicle on Lang Road, Centennial Park, for the purposes of a random testing,” NSW Police said in a statement.
“The driver — a 30-year-old man — was spoken to, with checks revealing his licence was suspended.
“He was subject to a roadside drug test which allegedly returned a positive result for methylamphetamine. A secondary sample of oral fluid was taken for further analysis.
“He was issued a court attendance notice for driving with a licence suspended under s 66 of the Fines Act, to appear before Waverly Local Court on Thursday, November 26, 2026, and a 24-hour driving probation. Inquiries continue.”
