Embattled Sydney will brace for further fallout from the sexual assault allegations that have rocked the AFL club, while finalising preparations for a dead rubber against North Melbourne.

On Thursday, five players – Isaac Heeney, Chad Warner, Nick Blakey, Riley Bice and James Jordon – were suspended for the rest of the season for “breaching club standards”.

Separately a police investigation continues into the events at East Melbourne’s Pullman Hotel in the early hours of Monday morning.

On Friday, coach Dean Cox distanced himself from any blame for the events at the hotel while captain Callum Mills said “we believe that the five players have let us down”.

Swans chairman Andrew Pridham on Wednesday said the club-imposed sanctions would “torpedo” the second-placed Swans’ premiership hopes.

Lions coach Chris Fagan says the crisis engulfing the Swans could galvanise them on the pitch. Photo: AAP

In their SCG qualifying final, Sydney will most likely face reigning premiers Brisbane, who all but locked in third place with Friday night’s 63-point win over Collingwood – unless Hawthorn leapfrog them on percentage.

The team that finishes fourth plays runaway minor premiers Fremantle while third faces a decimated and embattled Sydney.

“I don’t mind either or, to be honest with you,” Lions coach Chris Fagan said.

“It’s just good to get the double chance.

“And I’m sort of thinking that Sydney have lost some players obviously due to the unfortunate thing that happened last week. But in some ways that can galvanise a club too.

Brisbane Lions set up a likely clash with Swans with a comfortable win over Collingwood at the MCG. Photo: AAP

“The guys that do get to play just might go that much harder and be that much more difficult to beat.

“So either way I’m just happy we finished top four. We travel well. Either way we’re going to have to travel, so we’ll take whatever comes our way.”

Fagan hadn’t spoken to his players specifically about the Sydney situation.

“There’s been so much publicity around it – it almost goes without saying,” Fagan said.

“I don’t feel like I need to have a conversation with my players because it’s pretty obvious, the repercussions for not thinking through your actions too clearly. And yeah, it’s really unfortunate.

“I do feel sorry for Sydney because they have been such a terrific club in that regard for a long, long time but these sorts of things happen – it’s just a bit of a head-scratcher, isn’t it?

“You just wonder what was going through people’s heads to let that occur.”

Sydney on Friday disputed assertions there were more than five players in the East Melbourne hotel room on Monday morning

A lawyer acting for two women at the centre of the investigation had claimed there were “more than five” men involved at East Melbourne’s Pullman Hotel.

The lawyer, who claimed the two women involved were treated to “abhorrent” actions, also reportedly threatened to initiate legal action in the Victorian Supreme Court, with the alleged victims to seek damages for pain and suffering, psychological injury and economic loss.

Independent of the AFL-endorsed club bans, Victoria Police Sex Crimes Squad detectives have flown to Sydney to continue the investigation into the alleged activities.

No charges have been laid.

James Rowbottom, Harry Cunningham, Angus Sheldrick, Caiden Cleary and Tom Hanily will replace the banned five players for the North clash.

That game takes place after Sydney’s AFLW clash with Essendon as part of a double header.