Arabic version: فاغن يقول إن فضيحة سيدني «محيرة»

According to ABC News, Brisbane Lions coach Chris Fagan has expressed sympathy for Sydney after five Swans players were suspended for the rest of the AFL season for “breaching club standards”.

Isaac Heeney, Chad Warner, Nick Blakey, Riley Bice and James Jordon were suspended on Thursday. A separate police investigation is continuing into events at East Melbourne’s Pullman Hotel in the early hours of Monday morning.

Sydney are likely to meet reigning premiers Brisbane in a qualifying final at the SCG. The Lions all but secured third place with a 63-point win over Collingwood, although Hawthorn could still move above them on percentage with a big win over West Coast.

Fagan said Sydney’s losses could also galvanise the remaining players. “The guys that do get to play just might go that much harder and be that much more difficult to beat,” he said, adding that he was pleased Brisbane had earned the double chance.

The Lions coach said he had not specifically spoken with his players about the Sydney situation, describing the repercussions as obvious. He said he felt sorry for a club he called “terrific” for a long time, while labelling the incident “a bit of a head-scratcher”.

Sydney disputed assertions that more than five players were in the hotel room. James Rowbottom, Harry Cunningham, Angus Sheldrick, Caiden Cleary and Tom Hanily will replace the suspended players for Sunday’s match against North Melbourne, following the Swans’ AFLW game against Essendon.