Suspensions and police investigation
The Sydney Swans have stood down five players for the remainder of the AFL season after they breached club standards on drinking and staying out late, following a police investigation into an alleged sexual assault. Isaac Heeney, Chad Warner, Nick Blakey, Riley Bice and James Jordon were suspended by the club, which said the action was independent of the ongoing Victoria Police investigation.
Police are investigating reports of a sexual assault at the Pullman Hotel in Melbourne in the early hours of Monday, where the players were staying after a match against Essendon. None of the players have been arrested or charged, and a police spokesperson said officers had spoken to several people who were at the hotel, but no one had been formally interviewed. The club also said none of its players had been formally interviewed by police.
Club chairman Andrew Pridham and chief executive Matthew Pavlich issued a sincere apology on Wednesday, expressing "deep embarrassment and shame" over the players' poor choices. Pavlich told a media conference: "We're deeply embarrassed and ashamed that the poor choices of five of our players, and the impact that's had on the women involved and also the club." He declined to comment on drug testing, saying any testing would form part of the police inquiry.
The suspensions were handed down because the players had breached club standards by drinking alcohol later than accepted and bringing women to the hotel, Pridham explained. The club statement said: "We respect there is an ongoing investigation by Victoria Police and the actions we have taken today are independent of this. The AFL is supportive of the Club's sanctions."
Sponsor and publisher response
Several sponsors have suspended or paused their activities with the players involved. Colgate, Volkswagen and Telstra confirmed to the ABC that they had paused their activities. Other sponsors, including QBE and realestate.com.au, released statements condemning abuse or violence against women but stopped short of withdrawing support for the club. Australian Red Cross Lifeblood pulled out of a match-day activation ahead of Sunday's double-header.
In a separate development, Heeney's publisher Allen & Unwin paused promotion of his two books and publication of a third. Bookstores Gleebooks, Readings and Big W removed his books from stores nationally, while Booktopia continued to stock the book and said it would assess the situation. Amazon and Dymocks did not respond to requests for comment.
Club and player reactions
Coach Dean Cox and captain Callum Mills spoke to reporters for the first time since the suspensions. Mills said he was "deeply shocked and disappointed" by the events, that the five players had let the playing group down, and he apologized for the "actions of a few within our group." Cox and Mills issued an apology on Friday, saying their thoughts were with everyone affected, particularly the women involved. They declined to answer questions about what happened in the hotel room, including whether Swans staff were present, due to the ongoing police investigation.
AFL CEO Andrew Dillon described the reports as "deeply concerning." The league does not have a strict no-fault stand-down policy for players charged with serious offences such as sexual assault.
Political criticism
Labor MP Josh Burns doubled down on criticism of the Swans' handling of the allegations, saying the club's initial language "minimised" the wellbeing of the alleged victims. He said the primary concern should be the welfare of the women at the centre of the allegations and that the AFL has a responsibility to set culture. Burns referenced a "correction" in the Swans' language after initial remarks sparked backlash from advocates for centring the players, their careers and the upcoming final instead of the alleged victim.
Upcoming matches
The Swans will face their fans at the SCG on Sunday in a historic double-header with the AFLW team. The women's team will play Essendon, followed by the men's team facing North Melbourne. Sydney is second on the ladder and has secured two home finals, but many angry fans are threatening to walk out after the AFLW game.