Several Sydney Swans players have reportedly been interviewed by Victoria Police after an alleged incident and report of sexual assault, as the club considers stand-downs.
The Herald Sun, The Age and Seven’s Caroline Wilson reported Isaac Heeney, Chad Warner, James Jordon and Riley Bice were all questioned by police on Monday over the alleged incident at the Pullman Hotel.
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A manager for a fifth player has denied his client spoke to police.
The five players were reportedly driving back from Melbourne to Sydney on Monday night.
It is not suggested the players are under investigation, or implicated in any wrongdoing, only that they have been spoken to by police. No players have been arrested.
The Swans were staying at the hotel across the weekend due to its proximity to the MCG, where they defeated Essendon by 36 points on Sunday night.
“(The players) were all interviewed by police today, and are now making their way back to Sydney from Melbourne,” Wilson said on Seven News.
“My understanding is they are all driving back to Sydney. We know that none of those players have been arrested. We know their interviews with police were voluntary. We know that the AFL’s integrity unit headed up by Tony Keane and the AFL itself headed up by Tom Harley are running the investigation from the AFL side.
Police cars outside the Pullman hotel on Monday.Source: Supplied
“We don’t know the final details, and the police are still investigating. It was a massive shock to the club when they woke up to the news today, because of the seriousness of the allegations, and the timing, as it comes on the eve of the finals.
“They are definitely looking at standing the players down, quite apart from the fact that they were out late and allegedly drinking – that is being investigated by the club.
“The AFL view is that one game – Round 24, which isn’t going to have any real impact on the club’s fortunes – probably will not make the statement that both the club and the AFL feel should be made.
“Two games, one final at least.”
The Swans confirmed police were investigating an alleged incident earlier on Monday.
“The Sydney Swans can confirm several players were involved in an alleged incident in Melbourne last night,” a club statement read.
“The Swans have notified the AFL and relevant authorities and cannot provide further comment at this stage.”
Victoria Police then released a statement, saying they were “investigating a report of a sexual assault” in East Melbourne on Monday.
“The incident occurred at a hotel on Wellington Parade in the early hours of the morning,” the police statement read.
“The exact circumstances are yet to be established and the investigation into the incident remains ongoing.”
Sydney superstars Chad Warner and Isaac Heeney reportedly both spoke with police on Monday. File photo: Phil HillyardSource: News Corp Australia
The Herald Sun reported the club was considering standing down those involved. Four players, and potentially a fifth, are reportedly being investigated.
The Swans did not fly home after Sunday evening’s win over Essendon due to the Sydney Airport’s 11pm curfew, with Seven reporting some players went to the Harlow bar in Church Street, Richmond before “the party continued back at the Pullman”.
“Witness accounts describe two women approaching staff at the hotel demanding to be let into a guest room, complaining about an incident that had taken place during the night,” Gerard Whateley said on Fox Footy’s AFL 360.
“Coach Dean Cox was among club officials who were caught totally unawares when approached by a woman in the foyer. Some of that exchange was overheard by others present and a photograph taken. Cox was known to be rocked by the confrontation.
“The AFL Integrity department, as is standard practice, will run behind the police investigation and the police investigation has amongst other lines of the inquiries gathered CCTV vision from the hotel today.”
A photo of Cox being confronted in the hotel foyer on Monday morning has since emerged.
A photo taken of a woman confronting Sydney coach Dean Cox in the Pullman Hotel lobby on Monday morning.Source: FOX SPORTS
SEN reporter Sam Edmund on Monday wrote on X that Sydney players had “been summoned to a meeting” at lunchtime.
Swans chief executive Matthew Pavlich then fronted reporters in Sydney on Monday afternoon.
Pavlich refused to offer any further details of the alleged events at the Pullman, but said the club was “extremely shocked and disappointed”.
Swans statement over alleged incident | 00:56
“We can confirm that several players were involved in an alleged incident last night in Melbourne,” Pavlich said.
“We’ve identified this to the AFL. We are working with them, as well as the relevant authorities, on this matter.
“We’re still piecing together exactly what’s transpired here and have our own set of internal inquiries ongoing. But safe to say we’re extremely shocked and disappointed this has taken place and that the players have found themselves in this situation.
“We understand the level of interest in the matter and there’s going to be lots of speculation. But given it’s a police matter right now, that is all that we can say.”
News of the alleged incident was first broken by Herald Sun chief football writer and Fox Footy’s First Crack host Jay Clark for CODE Sports.
Clark reported “as many as eight” plain clothes and uniform police with clipboards and cameras were seen moving through the Pullman lobby and accessing hotel rooms on Monday.
Detectives leave the Pullman Hotel after reports of a serious incident involving Sydney Swans players overnight. Picture: Michael KleinSource: News Corp Australia
The Swans’ victory over Essendon cemented them into second spot on the AFL ladder, guaranteeing them two home finals at the SCG.
Sydney faces North Melbourne at the SCG in the final round of the home and away season next weekend.
They will then host a qualifying final across the weekend of September 4-6.