Suspended Sydney Swans star Nick Blakey has fuelled speculation about his future after teasing a possible move on Brownlow night. 

Blakey is one of five Swans players who were stood down by the club on the eve of the AFL finals over alleged misconduct at the team hotel in Melbourne following Sydney’s win over Essendon in August. 

The Swans, who bowed out of the AFL finals with a loss to Fremantle on the weekend, did not send any of the five suspended players to Melbourne for the Brownlow Medal ceremony on Monday night. 

However, Blakey appeared to hold a private celebration with his girlfriend, Australian Olympic sprinter Ella Connolly, who shared a photo on Instagram that is likely to attract attention from Swans fans. 

Connolly posed in the foreground of the image that was tagged at Crown Towers Hotel, but the detail with potential implications for Swans fans was behind her.

Blakey could be seen smiling while sitting on a bed, wearing a dark jacket bearing the Suns logo.

Blakey appeared in a Gold Coast Suns jacket amid ongoing speculation about his future at the Swans

Nick Blakey and four suspended Sydney teammates were barred from attending the Brownlow ceremony despite remaining eligible to win

Ella Connolly teased a ‘big announcement’ alongside the Instagram photo, which tagged Crown Towers Hotel in Sydney 

The accompanying caption directed followers to take a closer look.

‘Look carefully … big announcement soon … we’re ready for the Brownlows #afl #goldcoastsuns #brownlows2026,’ it read.

Comments appeared to have been disabled on the post.

The Gold Coast hashtag and jacket come amid reports the star defender is considering leaving Sydney, despite being contracted until the end of 2031. 

The Daily Mail has contacted both the Sydney Swans and Gold Coast Suns for comment. 

It would not be the first time that the star has been linked with a move to the Gold Coast. 

It had been reported earlier this month that the 26-year-old explored a move to the Suns at the end of last season because Connolly was planning to relocate to Queensland in preparation for the 2032 Olympics.

That report also claimed Blakey wanted to leave Sydney following an alleged deterioration in his relationship with the club. 

Blakey reportedly explored joining Gold Coast last year as Connolly planned a Queensland move ahead of the Brisbane 2032 Olympics 

The Sydney defender remains contracted until the end of 2031, despite reports he is considering a fresh start

He reportedly became frustrated with the Swans’ handling of the fallout from the Pullman Hotel incident in August, after which he and four teammates were suspended for the remainder of the season for breaching club standards.

Blakey, Isaac Heeney, Chad Warner, James Jordon and Riley Bice were banned from attending Monday night’s ceremony, although they remained eligible to win the medal.

Votes for the suspended players were reportedly met with near silence inside Crown Palladium, while television coverage avoided reaction shots of Sydney’s table. 

Blakey’s future remains uncertain following Sydney’s preliminary final defeat to Fremantle. 

AFL.com.au reported on Monday that rival clubs believed the defender was open to a fresh start elsewhere.

The same report said the five suspended players were expected to return to Sydney’s headquarters in some capacity that week, with arrangements still being worked through.

Possible exit meetings and an opportunity to address the wider playing group were among the options under consideration.

Earlier this month, Blakey’s housemate and teammate James Rowbottom said he had been supporting his friend through a difficult period.

‘I haven’t spoken to Nick about any sort of details,’ Rowbottom said.

‘Obviously, it’s been a challenging period for him, and I’m just reaching out as a friend. Living with him adds a whole other layer to the situation.’

Blakey’s lengthy contract means any departure would require Sydney’s agreement, with his deal reportedly worth more than $1million a season.

Gold Coast is also not the only club to have been linked to the attacking defender, with several Victorian teams reportedly interested.

The club-imposed suspensions were separate from Victoria Police’s investigation into sexual assault allegations linked to the Pullman Hotel incident. 

According to the supplied September 21 report, no charges had been laid and all five players denied criminal wrongdoing. 

– READ MORE: The Sydney defender remains contracted until the end of 2031, despite reports he is considering a fresh start

– READ MORE: Sydney Swans players put on a brave face with glamorous WAGS on their arms at the 2026 Brownlow