ISAAC Heeney has claimed his third consecutive Bob Skilton Medal as Sydney’s club champion, despite being among the five players banned after round 23 for breaching the club's behavioural standards. 

Heeney and the four other suspended players - Nick Blakey, Riley Bice, James Jordon and Chad Warner - were not in attendance at the Sydney Town Hall on Thursday night, having requested not to attend the event. 

Heeney (431 votes) edged out ruckman and Adam Goodes Trophy recipient Brodie Grundy (400), while forward Charlie Curnow (398) rounded out the top three and took home the Peter Bedford Trophy.

The 30-year-old Heeney claimed his inaugural club best and fairest in 2024 before retaining the award in 2025.

His third club champion award drew level with Luke Parker, Josh Kennedy, Adam Goodes, Gerard Healy, Ron Clegg and Bill Williams, further cementing his place among the club's modern greats.

It also capped one of the most consistent individual stretches by a Swan in recent seasons. He was in contention for a fourth career All-Australian selection before being suspended.

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Isaac Heeney lights up the 'G with a superb 29-disposal performance to go alongside three goals

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Heeney played 20 games this season, finishing the year ranked above average for disposals, kicks, handballs and tackles, and elite for total clearances. He averaged 26.9 disposals, 12.9 kicks, 14 handballs, 4.9 tackles and 6.2 clearances per game.

Sydney chair Andrew Pridham addressed the audience earlier in the night, saying the club had carefully considered whether the five players should remain eligible for the best and fairest award but ultimately decided their on-field performance should be judged separately from the conduct that led to their suspension.

"Their eligibility in tonight's count is not an endorsement of what happened. Our reasoning to include them in tonight's awards comes down to two main principles," Pridham said.

"The Integrity of the Count: Our coaches take it very seriously and cast votes after every game throughout the season. Under the rules of the medal, the five remain eligible, just as they were for the Brownlow Medal. We do not believe it would have been appropriate to retrospectively alter those votes after they had already been cast, owing to a subsequent incident," Pridham said.

"Conduct and Performance are Separate Matters: The sanction that stood them down dealt with their conduct. The medals awarded tonight acknowledge on-field performance across the whole season. Erasing a season of football after the fact would, in our opinion, be an inappropriate and excessive sanction."

In addition to finishing on the podium in his debut season for the Swans, marquee recruit Curnow won the Coleman Medal as the league's leading goalkicker with 69 goals and claimed All-Australian honours at full forward.

Meanwhile, Grundy finished runner-up to Heeney for the second consecutive year and claimed the Paul Kelly Player's Player Award.

Brodie Grundy after the Preliminary Final between Sydney and Fremantle at the Sydney Cricket Ground on September 18, 2026. Picture: AFL Photos

Inspirational skipper Callum Mills was named best clubman alongside mature-age draftee Billy Cootee, who claimed the honour in his debut season. Mills was recognised for his leadership through the club's late-season off-field challenges before a season-ending ACL tear in Sydney's qualifying final win over Brisbane.

Recruit Jai Serong was the most improved player, while Logan McDonald was rewarded for his outstanding finals campaign with the award for best player in finals.

Jai Serong in action during Sydney's clash against Port Adelaide in round 22, 2026. Picture: AFL Photos

Young defender Will Edwards took out the club's rising star award after impressing across 14 games in his debut season before suffering an ankle fracture and dislocation against St Kilda in round 21 that required surgery and prematurely ended his campaign.

In the reserves, key defender Patrick Snell was named VFL Player of the Year, while Mitch Mellis was awarded VFL Development Player of the Year after being selected in the 2026 Smithy's VFL Team of the Year squad.

Bob Skilton Medal leaderboard

1. Isaac Heeney – 431 votes
2. Brodie Grundy - 400
3. Charlie Curnow - 398
4. Chad Warner - 397
5. Jai Serong - 352
6. Callum Mills - 342
7. Nick Blakey - 339
8. Tom McCartin, -338
9. Tom Papley - 304
10. James Jordon - 301

Paul Kelly Player's Player Award: Brodie Grundy
Barry Round Best Clubman Award: Callum Mills and Billy Cootee
Rising Star Award: Will Edwards
Dennis Carroll Most Improved Player: Jai Serong
Paul Roos Best Player in Finals Award: Logan McDonald
VFL Player of the Year: Patrick Snell
VFL Development Player of the Year: Mitch Mellis