Dee Salmin has announced she will not attend the 2026 Brownlow Medal count following the Sydney Swans’ sexual abuse allegations.
Collingwood player Darcy Moore’s girlfriend slammed ‘the culture around AFL’ in a lengthy post aimed at her Substack page this week.
The podcaster said she has ‘decided not to go’ to the prestigious AFL Awards event this year, despite attending previous ceremonies and enjoying the experience.
“I’ve been thinking in recent weeks about the important conversations we’re having about women and the culture around AFL, and I’ve realized that I can’t continue to encourage other people to interrogate the systems they participate in without being prepared to interrogate them myself,” the 31-year-old Triple J presenter wrote.
“I didn’t make this decision thinking my absence would be noticed or anything major, but as someone who believes in leading according to your values, I just don’t feel comfortable at an event that doesn’t align with mine.”
She continued: “Of course there are people within the sport that I love and respect (my partner is one of them), but that doesn’t mean the entire culture is above criticism.
Dee Salmin has announced she will not attend the 2026 Brownlow Medal count following the Sydney Swans’ sexual abuse allegations. Pictured at the 2025 event with friend Darcy Moore
“I think serious change is needed when it comes to the AFL’s attitude towards women and gender-based violence.”
Dee has been in a long-term relationship with footy star Moore since 2023 and the pair moved in together earlier this year.
She had been single for three years before meeting Moore, and had avoided dating for most of her 20s after growing tired of being “attracted to people who weren’t that great.”
The radio presenter presents Triple J radio’s sex education program The Sunday Hook Up.
It comes after Sydney Swans players Chad 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 found they had breached standards of conduct following a post-match night out in Melbourne earlier this month.
The incident involved drinking, staying outside the club’s expectations and returning women to the team hotel.
Swans chief executive Matthew Pavlich said on Wednesday that players were “held to a very high standard” and should not have been out drinking late at night or inviting women back to their hotel – the Pullman East Melbourne – at 4am.
“It was staying out late, it was drinking, it was continuing their night,” Pavlich said.
The podcaster said she has ‘decided not to go’ to the prestigious AFL Awards event this year, despite attending previous ceremonies and enjoying the experience
“It brought women back to the hotel. It was far from what we expect from our players.
“And we hold them to a very high standard. But they fell well below that standard.”
In addition, Victoria Police are investigating allegations of sexual assault during the night.
Allegations of illegal drug use in the room have also been reported. The players have denied criminal wrongdoing and drug use.
Three women have made statements to the police about alleged misconduct.
Swans coach Dean Cox, football boss Leon Cameron, head of player welfare and development Brett Kirk and communications chief Tom Chadwick have also reportedly given statements to police.
The players have not been charged and the investigation is ongoing.
Meanwhile, the scandal has already had extraordinary consequences for the players.
Dee has been in a long-term relationship with footy star Moore since 2023 and the pair moved in together earlier this year
Banned from Brownlow, their AFL seasons are over and the Swans have been forced to answer in-depth 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 all involved,” their statement read.
‘We know that our behavior falls far short of the standards expected of us and the values of our club.’
