Arabic version: هيني يحصد جائزة سوانز لأفضل لاعب وأكثرهم نزاهة للعام الثالث توالياً

According to ABC News, Isaac Heeney has won Sydney’s best and fairest award, securing his third consecutive Bob Skilton Medal after the club sanctioned him for breaching its standards.

Heeney did not attend the awards ceremony. Teammates Chad Warner, Nick Blakey, Riley Bice and James Jordon also missed the event after the five players were banned from playing for the Swans over late-night partying at East Melbourne’s Pullman Hotel following an August 16 match.

Police are separately investigating an allegation of sexual assault from the same night. Heeney, Jordon, Blakey and Warner were interviewed by police, but no charges have been laid. ABC News said it was not suggesting wrongdoing by the suspended players.

Swans chairman Andrew Pridham said the club retained the players’ eligibility because votes had already been cast and the awards recognised on-field performance. He said retrospectively removing votes would have been inappropriate and in excess of a sanction.

Ruckman Brodie Grundy finished second in the count, while key forward Charlie Curnow was third. Heeney became the 11th player in South Melbourne and Sydney Swans history to win three best and fairest titles.