Arabic version: روبوتوم يدعم زميله في السكن بلايكي الموقوف من سوونز

According to ABC News, Sydney midfielder James Rowbottom is seeking to support suspended teammate and housemate Nick Blakey by “separat[ing] the person from the problem”. Blakey is one of five Swans players stood down for the rest of the season after the club said they breached behavioural standards at a post-match hotel party in August.

Isaac Heeney, Chad Warner, James Jordon and Riley Bice were also suspended from Sydney’s finals campaign. The suspensions are separate to a police investigation into sexual assault allegations and events at East Melbourne’s Pullman Hotel following Sydney’s round 23 match against Essendon on August 16. No charges have been laid, and there is no suggestion of wrongdoing by the five suspended players.

Rowbottom said he had only discussed Blakey’s welfare with his close friend, not reports that Blakey is seeking an off-season trade after a deterioration in his relationship with the club. “It’s been a challenging period for him, and I’m just sort of reaching out as a friend,” Rowbottom said. “Living with him is another layer to the situation.”

The five players will not be at the SCG for Sydney’s qualifying final against Brisbane on Saturday, although they have individually spoken to teammates before the match. With Heeney and Warner unavailable, Rowbottom has taken on more midfield responsibility alongside Errol Gulden and Jai Serong. The 25-year-old returned in round 24 after missing two weeks with a broken hand.