SYDNEY chief executive Matthew Pavlich has apologised to fans and urged them to keep supporting the club as the Swans attempt to re-group ahead of the last round of the home and away season.
Sydney's premiership hopes were "torpedoed" on Wednesday with the club banning stars Isaac Heeney, Chad Warner and Nick Blakey, as well as Riley Bice and James Jordon, for the remainder of the season for "breaching club standards".
The Swans will name an extended squad on Thursday night to face North Melbourne on Sunday afternoon at the SCG, with the line-up decimated by the absence of the banned players.
Pavlich was asked if he had a message for Swans fans ahead of the match, which is a double-header with Sydney's AFLW team.
"Keep supporting us. We're sorry we are putting you all through this," he said at Swans headquarters on Thursday morning.
"It's been really challenging day for them (supporters), for us, for all our people who we care deeply about.
"We've got two games to look forward to on Sunday, the double header, and the girls are really excited about their match.
"We're excited to have a huge crowd at the SCG."
In a letter to members on Wednesday evening, Pavlich and chairman Andrew Pridham apologised to everyone associated with the club.
"First and foremost, we would like to offer a sincere apology for the distress this incident has caused the wider community, our members, supporters, commercial partners, Academy families, staff members, athletes, their partners and families. Our thoughts remain with everyone affected, particularly the women involved," the letter read.
"To you, our members, many who have expressed their deep concern, we understand and share the hurt many of you will be feeling. To say we are disappointed is an understatement.
"We are very proud of the culture of the Sydney Swans, something that has been built over many years through the values and actions of our people and players. While we believe we largely get more right than we get wrong, clearly today is a deeply sad day for our Club and everyone connected to it."
Meanwhile, Sydney's last premiership coach John Longmire says the suspensions of five players is "flattening" for all involved.
Longmire, who is currently the club's executive director of club performance, said the on-field ramifications of banning the players wasn't a priority for Swans hierarchy.
"It was just incredible deep sadness ... and that is probably where we're still sitting," he told Fox Footy on Wednesday night.
"Football aspirations weren't part of the discussions, they were very much in the background.
"At the forefront were other people issues - as they should have been.
"The people issues are the things that really led the discussions over the last few days ... the premiership discussions were at the very back-end of anything that was talked about."
"The culture of the footy club has taken a big hit and it will take time for everyone to rebuild the trust in the football club," he said.
"You go from shock and disappointment, maybe a bit of anger in that, you get a bit of those emotions.
"And you also care about people, try and get that balance right, and it's very tricky."
