Nick Blakey has indicated to associates he wants to leave the Sydney Swans at the end of the season after his relationship with the club deteriorated.
The 26-year-old remains under club-imposed suspension with four teammates after the group breached the Swans’ behavioural standards last month.
Blakey still has five years remaining on his contract, which is worth more than $1 million a year, meaning any attempt to secure a trade would need to overcome significant hurdles.
The defender had already considered leaving Sydney once before.
The Age reported on Thursday that Blakey explored a move to Gold Coast at the end of last season as his girlfriend, Olympic runner Ella Connolly, prepared to relocate to Queensland ahead of the Brisbane 2032 Olympics.
Blakey ultimately remained with the Swans.
However, three competition sources who were not authorised to speak publicly to The Age said the relationship between the player and club had since deteriorated.
The sources said Blakey was angry with how the Swans handled the events at the Pullman East Melbourne, while the club was unhappy with his involvement.
The club suspension followed allegations the players partied into the early hours and brought women back to the team hotel after Sydney’s round 23 match against Essendon.
That disciplinary action is separate from the Victoria Police investigation into sexual assault allegations involving three women at the hotel.
No police charges have been laid.
News24.com.au is not suggesting any criminal wrongdoing by any of the players.
Should Blakey formally request a trade, the Swans would have to decide whether to facilitate a move while the police investigation remains unresolved.
Victoria Police said on Wednesday that another update on the investigation was not expected for about eight weeks, placing the next update in late October.
The 2026 AFL Trade Period will run from Monday, October 5 to Wednesday, October 14.
Detectives from the Sexual Crimes Squad travelled to Sydney on Wednesday to speak to four people connected to the investigation.
Police have also spoken to three men believed to have been inside the hotel room when the alleged incident occurred.
Those men are being treated solely as witnesses.
Police said they believe they have identified everyone who was inside the room and are not looking for anyone further.
Riley Bice, another of the five suspended Swans players, has been cleared of any criminal conduct and is now being treated as a potential witness.
Chad Warner, Isaac Heeney, James Jordon and Blakey remain under police investigation.
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