Nick Blakey, who recently joined North Melbourne after departing the Sydney Swans, is set to face his former club twice during the 2027 AFL season. The first meeting is scheduled for round 8 on May 8, with North Melbourne travelling to the Sydney Cricket Ground for a Saturday night match. The two teams will meet again in round 17 at Marvel Stadium, where Sydney will be the visitors.
Blakey’s departure from the Swans was widely discussed during the recent trade period, as the defender cited a breakdown in his relationship with the club. His exit followed the controversial “Pullman Five” incident in which five Sydney players were suspended for breaching club standards. Alongside Blakey, this group included Isaac Heeney, Chad Warner, James Jordon, and Riley Bice. While Bice was cleared by Victoria Police last month and is now considered a witness, Blakey and three others remain under police investigation amid allegations of sexual assault. All players involved deny any wrongdoing, and no charges have been filed.
The trade that facilitated Blakey’s move was significant, with Sydney receiving two first-round draft picks from North Melbourne in return. The prospect of Blakey playing against his former team has generated considerable interest, with players from both clubs commenting ahead of the scheduled matches. Sydney’s Tom Papley posted on social media expressing his closeness to Blakey and urging the AFL to release the official fixture promptly, highlighting the anticipation surrounding the upcoming encounters.
Sydney will enter the 2027 season as one of the AFL’s prime-time teams, featuring an AFL-high 10 games scheduled on Wednesday, Thursday, or Friday nights within the first 16 rounds. However, the matchups against North Melbourne and Blakey’s return to the SCG are expected to draw particular attention. These fixtures carry an added layer of tension given the circumstances of Blakey’s departure and the ongoing off-field investigations involving several former Swans players.