Sally Edmiston, a long-time Sydney Swans fan whose family has supported the club since its days as South Melbourne, initially considered cancelling her membership due to recent player suspensions for breaching behavioral standards. However, after witnessing the team's performance and dedication during training sessions, she reaffirmed her loyalty and plans to support them at the upcoming preliminary final against Fremantle with a sold-out SCG crowd. Coach Dean Cox acknowledged the club’s enduring fanbase but emphasized that they are still working to regain full trust following recent controversies.
Written by the local model on 2026-09-17,
using this article's own text rather than the other coverage of the
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Story summary
This time last month, Sally Edmiston, a 57-year-old lifelong supporter of the Sydney Swans (originally South Melbourne), considered canceling her club membership due to recent scandals. The Swans faced allegations involving players and a sexual assault incident at the Pullman Hotel in Melbourne following a game against Essendon on August 16. Five players were suspended for breaching behavioral standards, with Isaac Heeney, Chad Warner, Nick Blakey, and James Jordan still under police investigation. Despite her initial disappointment, Edmiston attended the Swans' open training session at the SCG in late September, ahead of a preliminary final, suggesting a potential reconciliation between fans like her and the club's image.
Written for “Swansea City Fan Reengagement” on 2026-09-17,
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This time last month, Sally Edmiston could not have imagined she’d been spending Thursday morning in the third week of September at the SCG, attending the Swans’ open training session the day before a preliminary final.
uncertain
she → imagine → final
Instead, the 57-year-old was considering cancelling her membership.
asserted
old → consider → membership
Three generations of her family have supported the club, going back to its days as South Melbourne, and she says she was taken to her first games as a baby in her pram.
asserted
she → support → pram
Like the rest of the AFL world, she was shocked to read the reports coming out of Melbourne’s Pullman Hotel on the morning of Monday, August 17, which would lead to the suspension of five players for breaching the clubs’ behavioural standards.
asserted
which → shock → standards
Four of those players – Isaac Heeney, Chad Warner, Nick Blakey and James Jordon – remain part of a police investigation into the alleged sexual assault of exotic dancers at the Pullman after the club’s victory over Essendon at the MCG the night before.
asserted
Four → remain → MCG
Edmiston was so upset at what she was reading she began drafting an email to the club.
asserted
she → read → club
In it, she wrote that she was thinking of ending her membership.
asserted
she → write → membership
“I just needed to offload to say how disappointed I was,” she said.
asserted
she → need → ?
Though Edmiston received a prompt reply, she said she was still undecided about continuing her membership when she turned up for the Swans’ next home match, against North Melbourne.
asserted
she → receive → Melbourne
“But when I saw them play their guts out …
asserted
them → see → guts
You fall back in love and trust them again,” she said.
asserted
she → fall → them
“You end up loving the players, but it’s the jumper you love at the end of the day.”
asserted
you → end → day
After their stunning 53-point victory over Brisbane in the qualifying final 12 days ago, Edmiston bought a plane ticket from Melbourne to Sydney, arriving on Thursday morning with her sister, Amanda.
asserted
Edmiston → buy → sister
The two women went directly from the airport to the SCG, still carrying their suitcases, to watch the Swans train.
asserted
Swans → go → suitcases
“I figured that I wanted to fly up just for moral support, whether we lose or win,” Edmiston said.
asserted
Edmiston → figure → support
“I figured if they lose, I think it’s nice to have us just proud of them for what they’ve been through and everything going on.
asserted
they → figure → what
And if they win, we’ll be at the ’G.”
asserted
we → win → ’
Edmiston will be part of a sold-out crowd at Friday night’s preliminary final against Fremantle.
asserted
Edmiston → sell → Fremantle
On Thursday, though, coach Dean Cox dismissed the suggestion that a full SCG was proof that the Swans had won back their fans.
asserted
Swans → dismiss → fans
“We’re still trying to do that,” Cox insisted.
asserted
Cox → try → that
“I think the support that this football club has had for a long period of time has been phenomenal.
asserted
club → think → time
This year’s been sold out most of the year, and it’s great to see everyone get back in.
asserted
everyone → sell → year
Hopefully, we can put in a performance that we’re really proud of.”
asserted
we → put → that
O’Sullivan said he was missing a couple of work Zoom calls to bring Tadgh to the training session as Friday night’s game, which kicks off at 7.40pm, was too late for him.
asserted
which → say → him
Originally a Gaelic football fan from Ireland, O’Sullivan has been a Swans devotee since he moved to Sydney 18 years ago, while his son has worn red and white since he was born.
“He’s inherited it,” O’Sullivan said.
asserted
O’Sullivan → move → it
“He loves it.”
asserted
He → love → it
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