AFLW players are drug tested as part of the Australian Football Anti-Doping Code and Hamilton and Sheppard have not tested positive for any prohibited substance under that code.

AFL General Counsel Stephen Meade said AFLW players are well-educated when it comes to the harms associated with the use of illicit substances.

“While Alexia and Paige have been extremely remorseful and apologetic for their actions, they have a responsibility to themselves, their clubs, and their professional careers to uphold community expectations,” said Meade.

“Our review, in collaboration with the AFLPA, of the AFL’s Illicit Drug Policy continues. The AFL’s expectation is that AFLW players will be part of any future policy. In these circumstances, both players have been dealt with under the AFL Rules and the accountability both publicly and privately is appropriate.”

The drug scandal arose from police investigating “dial-a-dealer” type drug deals, where users order drugs via a “runner” who will then attend a predetermined spot and supply the drugs for payment.

Documents tendered to the court stated that when Hamilton was arrested on December 2 last year she had in her possession four clear resealable bags containing two grams of cocaine, while Sheppard had 0.6 grams of the same drug.

Investigators saw the women leave the Clovelly Hotel at 5.45pm. Hamilton then appeared to text on her mobile phone.

They walked east along Clovelly Road before “double-backing” and continuing to walk west.

At the front of one house, investigators saw a silver Toyota park, which the players entered and left quickly before walking down a driveway.

Investigators approached them and asked if they just bought drugs from a silver car, to which Hamilton said “yes” and said she paid “400.”

Hamilton reached into her top and handed police tissue paper with two clear resealable bags, while Sheppard handed them one clear resealable bag from inside her top, the facts read.

Hamilton said words similar to, “I have two and she has one,” while Sheppard was asked how much it weighed and said, “I don’t know, I had one”.

Sheppard had joined the Sydney Swans for a second season after transferring from the Geelong Falcons VFLW side in 2022.

Hamilton joined the Swans in 2022, after playing three games of AFLW with the Gold Coast Suns and North Melbourne.

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Hamilton graduated with a double degree in Paramedicine and Nursing at the Australian Catholic University and was first registered as a nurse in May last year.

In addition to her AFLW career, she works as a registered nurse at the Australian Red Cross Lifeblood Donor Centre at Moore Park next door to the Swans training facility. Lifeblood was contacted, but provided no comment.

The Swans notified the AFL Integrity Unit as soon as it became aware of the situation last year.

Sydney Swans CEO Tom Harley said the club is disappointed to have players in this position, who have “fallen short” of the club’s expected standards.

“We are supportive of the AFL sanctions as we believe they are appropriate,” Harley said.

“All Sydney Swans players are educated about the impacts of drug use, so to have players in this position is also disappointing from a health and wellbeing perspective”.