Wife of top AFL executive voices concern over Nick Blakey trade deal

The wife of one of the AFL’s most powerful executives says she is “struggling” to deal with North Melbourne’s contentious decision to trade for Nick Blakey, who remains involved in a Victoria Police investigation.

Felicity Harley, an author and a prominent media publishing identity who founded Women’s Health magazine commented on an Instagram post by Not All Clubs Media which focuses on inequality in sport.

Harley was one of several women who endorsed Tuesday’s post and commentary which began with the comment that “being a woman in 2026 means watching a footy player linked to an alleged sexual assault investigation receive an $11-$12 million deal”.

Harley responded to the post with the comment: “Struggling with this …”

Blakey was one of five Sydney players handed season-ending suspensions by the club for their part in a wild night of partying in August after the Swans’ victory over Essendon in round 23, just a fortnight from the start of the finals.

A separate Victoria Police investigation is ongoing after three women, working as exotic dancers, variously alleged they were sexually assaulted and touched inappropriately without consent.

No charges have been laid, and all five Swans who served the bans denied criminal wrongdoing. One of those players, Riley Bice, is no longer a subject of the investigation and is being treated as a witness.

Tom Harley is second in charge at the AFL as its chief operating officer, and is seen as the successor to chief executive Andrew Dillon.

The AFL was contacted for comment.

The Kangaroos on Tuesday effectively gave up two first-round picks and a future second-round selection in a complex trade to secure Blakey, an All-Australian defender two seasons ago who has signed with the Kangaroos on a deal worth up to $12 million.

After the deal was struck, Blakey, in a statement, apologised for his role in the Pullman hotel scandal that hurt the Swans’ finals campaign.

“I want to say that I’m sorry for the events that led up to my exit from Sydney,” Blakey said.

“I know I have to win back the trust of the broader community, football and otherwise.

“Now I have the opportunity to move forward, and I want to thank North Melbourne for helping me find a fresh start. I’m grateful I have landed at a place that has such deep connections to me and my family.

“There is so much potential in this group, and I’m looking forward to getting to work to help take North Melbourne forward.”

When the Swans scandal broke in August, Harley also posted a comment on social media in reply to author and mental health advocate Jill Stark, who had posted that an AFL club’s on-field success had come before women’s wellbeing.

“I couldn’t agree more,” Harley said in response to Stark’s post.

Harley been voted one of Australia’s 100 Women of Influence for her “I Support Women in Sport” campaign.

Tom Harley, a Geelong premiership captain, was the Sydney Swans’ chief executive before accepting the offer to head to the AFL.

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