Former Essendon captain Dyson Heppell has weighed into the fallout surrounding the Sydney Swans, delivering a blunt message to men about respect, accountability and calling out their mates when behaviour crosses the line.

Heppell posted a video to Instagram after Swans stars Isaac Heeney, Nick Blakey, Chad Warner, James Jordon and Riley Bice were suspended by the club for the remainder of the 2026 AFL season for breaching club standards.

The club sanctions are separate to an ongoing Victoria Police investigation relating to an alleged sexual assault at a Melbourne hotel.

No charges have been laid, and The Nightly is not suggesting any of the five suspended players have committed sexual assault or any criminal wrongdoing.

The 34-year-old, who played 253 games for Essendon and captained the Bombers between 2017 and 2022, said his years inside professional sporting environments meant he understood the culture, pressure and behaviour that can exist within teams.

“I feel I have to talk to the current situation for a quick minute now,” Heppell said.

“(I have) been around footy, sporting teams and that type of environment for a big part of my life. I get it, I get the banter, I get the pressure, I get the expectations and I get the type of environment that can exist inside sporting teams.

“But there is one thing that should never, that should never be complicated, and it’s that women deserve to feel safe, that they deserve respect.”

Heppell said the unfolding situation should prompt men both inside and outside professional sport to reflect on their own behaviour and responsibilities.

“Whatever the outcome of this current situation, I think it’s an important moment for every man involved in sport or not to have a good look at himself,” he said.

“Being a footballer, being in a team, being with your mates, being drunk, carrying on after a win, none of these things change the responsibility we have to respect women.”

But Heppell’s message went further than individual behaviour, arguing men also had a responsibility to intervene when their friends crossed a line.

“Being a good bloke isn’t just about how you treat your teammates, it’s about how you treat women and especially when nobody is watching,” he said.

“It’s about recognising when someone is feeling uncomfortable, stepping in when your mate crosses the line. It’s about having the courage to call out the behaviour that isn’t right. Especially, when it is your mate.”

Heppell also challenged the idea that strong sporting culture meant protecting teammates regardless of their actions.

“We talk about building cultures in footy and this is what culture looks like, it’s not protecting your mates at all costs, it’s not laughing something off or looking the other way, it’s respect, it’s accountability. It’s doing the right thing when it matters.

“To the women and the girls who are part of the football community and women in general, you deserve nothing less. Men have a responsibility to be better. We can’t just say we respect women, we have to show it.”

Heppell retired from AFL at the end of 2024 and now works at Collingwood as a development coach.