Sydney Swans players have been involved in an alleged sexual assault incident in Melbourne.
The Herald Sun first reported police swarmed the club’s hotel in Melbourne where players were staying following the club’s win over Essendon at the MCG on Sunday night.
It has been reported Isaac Heeney, Chad Warner, James Jordon and Riley Bice were questioned by police over the alleged assault, while the manager for a fifth player denied his client had spoken to the authorities.
There is no suggestion that the allegations are true, only that they have been made.
The club, who are considering standing down the players allegedly involved, released a statement which confirmed multiple players were involved in an alleged incident.
A “shocked” and “disappointed” Swans CEO Matthew Pavlich briefly fronted the media on Monday afternoon to issue a statement.
“We can confirm that several players were involved in an alleged incident last night in Melbourne,” Mr Pavlich said in a statement on Monday afternoon.
“We have identified this to the AFL and we are working with them and also the relevant authorities on this matter.
“We are still piecing together exactly what has transpired here and we have our own internal inquiries ongoing.
“It is safe to say we are extremely shocked and disappointed that this has taken place and that the players have found themselves in this situation,” he said.
“We understand the level of interest in the matter. There is a lot of speculation but given it’s a police matter that is all we can actually say.”
It comes after the club said in an earlier statement: “The Sydney Swans can confirm several players were involved in an alleged incident in Melbourne last night”.
“The Swans have notified the AFL and relevant authorities and cannot provide further comment at this stage.”
According to The Herald Sun, two women approached hotel staff and demanded to be let back into one of the guest rooms at around 7am.
It is also alleged one of the women ran into the toilets crying prior to the police arriving. She was described as “hysterical” and “upset”.
The two women were reportedly “agitated” in the lobby.
After being told they could not return to the room, they allegedly began remonstrating with Swans officials including coach Dean Cox.
Prior to a third woman arriving at the hotel, Swans staff could be heard telling the two women they were unaware of an incident.
A source reported hearing one woman telling hotel staff: “We have everything recorded of what those AFL players did to our friend in that room”.
Channel 7 are reporting several players went for drinks at a bar in Richmond.
They allege the party continued back at the hotel.
Heeney is engaged to long-time partner Steffanie Waters, while Chad Warner is in a relationship with Alice Hughes.
Police were seen swarming through the Pullman East Melbourne hotel on Wellington Parade on Monday.
According to the report, as many as eight uniformed police officers with clipboards and cameras were seen around the venue on Sunday.
Victoria Police issued a statement on Monday afternoon.
“Police are investigating a report of a sexual assault in East Melbourne on 17 August,” police media said.
“The incident occurred at a hotel on Wellington Parade in the early hours of the morning.
“The exact circumstances are yet to be established and the investigation into the incident remains ongoing”.
Leading football journalist Tom Morris has reported three women were seen in the foyer of the hotel confronting Sydney staff, including coach Dean Cox, on Monday morning.
SEN journalist Sam Edmund reported Swans players have been summoned to attend a team meeting.
Morris posted on X the incident “could rock Sydney’s season”.
While AFL expert Kane Cornes told Channel 7: “Incredible to think they would even put themselves in these positions”.
“What the future holds for the players remains to be seen but if I was a teammate of one of those and it had the prospect of costing us potentially a premiership I’m not sure I’d ever forgive them”.
The Swans defeated Essendon by 36 points at the MCG on Sunday night before the incident was alleged to have occurred.
Sydney is currently second on the ladder and faces North Melbourne this weekend.
Police have asked for anyone with information to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or submit a confidential report at www.crimestoppersvic.com.au.