Sydney Swans player Chad Warner seen in tense outing with his stony-faced girlfriend as he breaks cover for the first time since hotel scandal with a strippers – but has a laugh with a mate just hours later

One of the five Sydney Swans players at the centre of one of the most explosive scandals to rock the AFL has broken his cover.

Chad Warner, who is currently suspended by the Swans for the rest of the 2026 season after breaching behavioural standards following a party with strippers at a Melbourne hotel, was seen heading to breakfast with his girlfriend Alice Hughes in Sydney on Thursday.

Hughes, who has supported Warner throughout his rise to football stardom, looked sombre as the pair made their way to a local cafe. 

Warner attempted to fly under the radar, wearing the hood of his white sweatshirt up and keeping his head down during the outing. 

His stony-faced girlfriend, meanwhile, dressed down in a black jumper and pants.

Hughes has traditionally kept a relatively low profile despite Warner’s rapid rise to AFL stardom. 

The Perth-born nurse has been with the star player for several years and moved to Sydney after Warner was drafted by the Swans. 

She has also accompanied him to high-profile football functions, including the Brownlow Medal, where the pair have previously appeared together on the red carpet. 

Hours after the breakfast outing with Hughes, Warner was spotted out with a male friend – looking considerably more relaxed.

He appeared cheerful as the pair enjoyed a walk across cliffs at a beach, seemingly worlds away from the subdued breakfast earlier in the morning.

The duo even had a few laughs as they sat side-by-side on a rock while enjoying the view. 

The midfielder is currently navigating one of the most turbulent periods of his career.

Warner, Isaac Heeney, Nick Blakey, James Jordon and Riley Bice were suspended by the Swans for the remainder of the 2026 season after the club determined they had breached its behavioural standards following a post-match night out in Melbourne earlier this month.

The incident involved drinking, staying out beyond the club’s expectations and bringing women back to the team hotel.

Swans chief executive Matthew Pavlich said on Wednesday that players are held ‘to a really high standard’ and should not have been late-night drinking or inviting women back to their hotel – the Pullman East Melbourne – at 4am.

‘It was staying out late, it was drinking, it was to continue their night,’ Pavlich said.

‘It was bringing women back to the hotel. It was a long way short of what we expect of our players.

‘And we’re holding them to a really high standard. But they were well short of anywhere near that standard.’

Separately, Victoria Police are investigating allegations of sexual assault arising from the night. 

There have also been reported allegations of illicit drug use inside the room. The players have denied criminal wrongdoing and drug use.

Three women have reportedly made statements to police concerning alleged misconduct. 

Swans coach Dean Cox, football boss Leon Cameron, head of player wellbeing and development Brett Kirk and communications chief Tom Chadwick have also reportedly provided statements to police. 

The players have not been charged, and the investigation remains ongoing. 

Meanwhile, the scandal has already produced extraordinary consequences for the players.

They have been banned from the Brownlow, their AFL seasons are over and the Swans have been forced to confront searching questions about the culture surrounding the club.

The five suspended players issued a joint apology after accepting the club’s punishment.

‘We are deeply sorry to everyone involved,’ their statement read.

‘We know that our behaviour has fallen well short of the standards expected of us and the values of our club.’

Meanwhile, Sydney responded to the turmoil by beating North Melbourne by 53 points at the SCG on Sunday despite being forced to replace five members of its regular side.

Captain Callum Mills and teammate Errol Gulden were visibly emotional after the final siren.

‘I’m so grateful for our fans for sticking with us,’ Mills said after the victory.

‘We stayed united as a club this week and I’m really proud of that.’

Swans chairman Andrew Pridham has promised a wide-ranging review into the club’s culture, while the AFL will wait until the police investigation is completed before conducting its own inquiries.

Daily Mail does not suggest any of the named Swans players are under police investigation or involved in any wrongdoing alleged by the women.