Whateley: Among warranted anger and shame is a sense of sadness

There is an undisguised fury across the football landscape toward the Sydney five.

That’s within the four walls of the Swans to League headquarters and beyond.

The stupidity and selfishness of a handful of players has dragged footy through the mud.

An experienced administrator suggested to me on Monday afternoon this would be the story of the decade… it’s certainly headed in that direction.

And judging by the mood of the moment, the punishments are just getting started.

The primary issue of the sexual assault investigation is expected to progress with police reportedly now ready to conduct formal interviews as soon as today (Thursday).

The women involved in the incident have been heard.

They are entitled to respect and deserve care.

The alleged victim remains the central figure in a sorry episode.

Beyond that, the impact on the climax of the AFL season is profound.

Isaac Heeney, Chad Warner and Nick Blakey would have been three of the central figures in the September showpiece.

Heeney was bound for a fourth All-Australian.

Warner had a hold on the goal of the year.

There can be no celebrations in such disgrace.

The Swans have the double chance and two home finals… but it’s hard to envisage either the mood or the line-up for those matches right now.

The increasingly grubby details of a seedy night at the team hotel taint everything.

It would appear the culture of the Swans built by the elders was different to the culture lived within at least a portion of the player group.

That will be a difficult reconciliation for Sydney.

In amongst the warranted anger and shame is an increasing sense of sadness.

For the whole tawdry episode.

The 90 minutes we had together as this story broke yesterday was a salient reminder.

Football only matters because of your connection to it.

Perhaps the players, who experience the game as a career, can never fully grasp that.

It’s a business to some but a passion to the masses.

The devotion and loyalty and connection.

So the betrayal is incredibly sharp in a moment like this.

There is a privilege to a position like this with what people are prepared to share.

And there’s a debt I think to pass that on.

So without meaning to labour the point, Daniel from Frankston sent a moving email about his 78-year-old father, a lifelong South Melbourne man.

*From standing on crushed beer cans at the Lakeside Oval as a young boy watching Bobby Skilton, to sitting high at the back of the O'Reilly Stand for Tony Lockett's point in the 1996 preliminary final, Dad has seen it all across more than 40 years as a member. Through the historic premierships, the heartbreak of recent Grand Final defeats, and the tough years being thrashed under Ron Barassi, his love for the club never wavered.

That shared love for footy brings us together almost every weekend, whether over a beer at the MCG or on our annual road trip to Gather Round.

Yet today, for the first time in his life, I heard Dad use the words "devastated" and "in complete shock" when talking about footy. I fear the unconscionable and unforgivable actions of the accused will cast a shadow over a lifetime of joy for dedicated, honest supporters like my old man.

I deeply hope the true Bloods culture can eventually heal and recover from this dark chapter.*

That was from Daniel.

And this from Nicole.

*I sat and watched all the AFL shows last night with tears streaming down my face. I am a 57 yr old Melb Swans member who has been to every grand final and travelled to Sydney every year to watch my beloved team.

4 weeks ago my beautiful dad passed away at the age of 83. 83 years of following his bloods. At his funeral the swans scarf sat proudly on his coffin. In his final moments with a guard of honour as he left, the Sydney Swans theme song played. At the time, that was fitting and poignant, as his love for the bloods has transferred to me and then my now adult sons and has been a wonderful connection for all of us our whole lives.

Now I just feel sick when I think about my club. Disgusted and sick. I can't even put into words how shattered I feel first and foremost as a female who treasured these leaders of our club and secondly as a fan. A part of me wants to 100% support the rest of the team for the remaining season but a part of me wants to not even look at that jumper or anyone in it again. *

Nicole, football only matters because of your connection to it.

The downtrodden tone, that sense of sadness sat heavily over premiership coach John Longmire on 360 last night.