Sydney Swans fans are grappling with an emotional week of developments ahead of a historic double-header, as a scandal continues to engulf the team.
Five players — Isaac Heeney, Nick Blakey, Chad Warner, Riley Bice and James Jordon — have been stood down by the Swans for breaching the club's standards on drinking and staying out late following last Sunday's win over Essendon in Melbourne.
Police from Victoria's sexual crimes squad are separately investigating a report of sexual assault, which the ABC understands centres on a player allegedly touching a woman without her consent.
Police have not made any arrests or laid charges.
The lawyer representing two of the women present on the evening says his clients will be claiming damages for "pain and suffering", while the lawyer representing a third woman involved says a potential civil lawsuit is being looked at.
On Sunday, the women's side is set to take on Essendon in the AFLW's round 2 before the men's side finishes its regular season with a clash against North Melbourne.
The scandal has rocked the AFL and the wider community, with Swans fans left to reckon with their support ahead of the double-billing.
Support swells for women's side
Lulu Clarke has been a Sydney Swans fan for as long as she can remember, and says this week has made her feel "pretty awful".
"I'm like, so incredibly disappointed … just to be a Sydney Swans fan," she told ABC News.
Before the scandal erupted, the 24-year-old says she had initially purchased tickets to the men's game this Sunday.
"I actually had no idea that the women were playing, I didn't see it publicised at all," she said.
"And then the news broke on Monday and I thought, 'Oh, I'm not going to that AFL game anymore.'"
Ms Clarke says she "flipped" her plans after learning how significant the double-header was for the women's side.
"I decided that I'm just going to go to the women's instead of the men's, and do whatever I can to support them because they don't deserve to be overshadowed."
The GWS Giants have also put rivalries aside and encouraged their fans to turn out for the Sydney Swans women.
The Giants had their own double-fixture last weekend, and have urged members to support their "cross-town compatriots, be it wearing orange or red".
"This Sunday, the Swans AFLW will play in their own historic double-header at the SCG, in what should be a celebration for their own team and support base," a statement read.
"As we will be playing the Demons away from home in Melbourne, we would like to encourage our Sydney-based and non-travelling fans to continue supporting the spectacle of women's football in Sydney by attending the match, before watching us play Melbourne.
"This is a moment to put rivalries aside and bolster the women's game in NSW by showing up and supporting the league and women in football."
On Friday, Sydney AFLW captain Lucy McEvoy and coach Colin O'Riordan said the women's program supported the sanctions imposed on the five male players, and said their actions did not reflect the Swans as a club.
McEvoy said the women's team had received a groundswell of support through social media in the wake of the allegations, which she described as "really special".
Fans standing by club 'through the good times and the bad times'
Other Sydney Swans fans are opting to attend both matches.
"Everyone is entitled to do what they feel is best for them," says Liz, a Sydney Swans fan who wanted to be referred to by her first name only.
"Personally, I will be there to support the club, the girls and our boys, and support them as I always have," she told ABC News.
"Nothing for me for the club has changed. I can't comment on anyone else, I can only comment on how I'm feeling.
"I will be there for the boys and the girls and I will be cheering them on, because that's what I should be doing because we look after our club through the good times and the bad times."
Madison Clarke is the co-host of the unofficial Swans fan podcast, True Blood, and believes the notion of a "walkout" before the men's game is "coming from parts of the community that aren't necessarily Swans".
"I think there's a mainstream sentiment that is suggesting there may be a walkout," he said.
"We think all feelings on this matter, because it's a complex matter, we feel that all feelings are valid, broadly.
"But the overarching theme should be that while there are five guys that have seemingly dropped their standards and done the wrong thing, there's going to be 23 guys and the AFLW team, running out on the SCG on Sunday, that haven't done anything wrong, that need our support broadly."
Mr Clarke added this week had no doubt been difficult for many fans, and that coming together could be beneficial to navigating the news.
"It's felt for a lot of people to be quite isolating over this week," he said.
"I think what we've found therapeutic and comforting is actually having a dialogue with other Swan supporters.
"So there's nothing better to do, if you're able, than to get to the SCG and be around like-minded people who know how the week's been and know how you're feeling and it can be a really galvanising moment.
"So I think it's very important that we get there.
"Getting around the girls and getting around the guys who haven't done anything wrong because I don't think we should be abandoning either the AFLW team or the AFL men's team."
