Morphett blow but it’s ‘next person in’ for Swans

By the Editorial Team · Thursday, September 10, 2026

Ally Morphett has been suspended for one match and will miss Sunday’s Sydney Derby after being penalized for striking an opponent during the Swans’ recent loss to the Western Bulldogs. This suspension, influenced by new AFLW tribunal rules assigning stricter penalties for intentional strikes, not only sidelines Morphett for the crucial derby but also disqualifies her from the league’s best and fairest award.

Ally Morphett will miss Sunday’s Sydney Derby against the Greater Western Sydney Giants due to a one-match suspension imposed after an incident in the Swans’ recent loss to the Western Bulldogs. Morphett was found guilty of striking Bulldogs player Elisabeth Georgostathis in the final quarter of the game, a ruling that Swans coach Colin O’Riordan described as a frustrating outcome.

The suspension follows changes to the AFLW tribunal’s grading system, which now automatically assigns a medium impact penalty for any intentional strike to the body, a departure from previous criteria that allowed for a lower grading. This adjustment effectively removed the club’s confidence in successfully appealing the ban. Morphett’s action reportedly occurred during a tackle where her arm was awkwardly twisted by Georgostathis, a circumstance the Swans considered when disputing the severity of the charge.

O’Riordan acknowledged the complexity of the situation, stressing that although the ruling was disappointing, it underscored the risk players take when striking an opponent. He pointed out that Morphett immediately accepted responsibility and expressed remorse for the incident. “She’s really disappointed and rightly so,” O’Riordan said, emphasizing the player’s concern about letting her team down ahead of the critical derby match.

In addition to Morphett, teammate Lexi Hamilton has also been charged for striking Heidi Woodley, adding to Sydney’s disciplinary challenges. The suspension not only sidelines Morphett for the upcoming fixture but also renders her ineligible for the league’s best and fairest award at the season’s end.

Despite the setback, O’Riordan remains optimistic about the team’s ability to adapt, highlighting the Swans’ “next person in” philosophy and expressing confidence in the squad’s depth to perform in front of what is expected to be a strong crowd at Henson Park.

The Sydney Derby is scheduled for Sunday, where the Swans will face their cross-town rivals without one of their key players due to the tribunal’s ruling.

This article was reported by synthesizing coverage from multiple independent news outlets to present a balanced, unbiased account. Read about our editorial standards. Spotted an error? Let us know.