There’s reportedly “frustration” and “anger” from those around suspended Sydney star Nick Blakey for how he has been treated in the Pullman Hotel saga.
All five players accepted their suspensions for breaching club standards last week, the fallout continuing on Monday with the AFL banning them from attending this year’s Brownlow Medal count.
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No charges have been laid and the club suspensions are separate to a Victoria Police investigation into an allegation of sexual assault.
But Blakey in particular has been left frustrated by the way he has been treated, with suggestions he had “limited involvement” in the alleged party.
The Herald Sun’s Jon Ralph reports those close to Blakey feel he’s been “harshly dealt with”.
“So far, we have heard very little from those five players involved … but at least for those close to Nick Blakey, there is a real level of frustration,” Ralph told Fox Footy’s On the Couch.
“Some of them believe he was harshly dealt with and they believe he had limited involvement on the night, with limited clarity yet on whether he was in bed at the time of the alleged incident.
“However Blakey has accepted his club punishment.
“So only that police investigation will uncover all of the details, but there is a lot of emotion and a lot of anger that is still simmering, despite something of a day of healing yesterday.”
As many as eight Victorian clubs are believed to have some interest in Blakey should the running defender, who has a long-term contract at the Swans, be willing to seek a trade.
But the public perception of such a move will make it difficult until more facts emerge.
“Whether that plays out with the Swans and their banned players deciding we need to cut ties at the trade table will only be uncovered over the next four or six weeks, but some clubs are telling me it would be very difficult to try and entertain any trade with any of these five players,” Ralph said.
“They have obligations to sponsors, to the community, and across all 18 clubs now have AFLW sides.
“It would be an extremely hard sell for those clubs to try and secure any of those players.”
