AFL

Named: Sydney Swans players involved in alleged incident

Update: 8:30pm (AEST)

According to Channel 7 journalist Caroline Wilson, the following Sydney players were questioned by police over an alleged sexual assault and are commuting back to Sydney by car.

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• Chad Warner
• Isaac Heeney
• Nick Blakey
• James Jordon
• Riley Bice

Wilson said on 7News: 

«(The players) were all interviewed by police today, and are now making their way back to Sydney from Melbourne,» Wilson told 7News.

«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.

«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.»

Swans CEO comments to the media

Update: 2pm (AEST)

Sydney chief executive Matthew Pavlich has spoken to the media about the alleged incident involving Swans players and the subsequent sexual assault investigation.

«We’re still piecing together exactly what’s transpired here and have our own set of internal enquiries ongoing, but safe to say that we’re extremely shocked and disappointed that this has taken place and that the players have found themselves in this situation,» Pavlich said.

«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.»

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MORE: Sydney Swans alleged sexual assault: Will players miss out on AFL finals?

Sydney players involved in alleged sexual assault, police investigating

Original story

Several Sydney AFL players have been involved in an alleged incident at a Melbourne hotel, with police confirming they are “investigating a report of a sexual assault in East Melbourne on August 17”.

The Swans released a statement on Monday afternoon confirming that an alleged incident occurred at the Pullman East Melbourne hotel in the aftermath of the team’s 36-point win against Essendon at the MCG on Sunday.

“The Sydney Swans can confirm several players were involved in an alleged incident in Melbourne last night,” the club said in a statement.

“The Swans have notified the AFL and relevant authorities and cannot provide further comment at this stage.”

A Victoria Police statement indicated a ‘sexual assault’ investigation had been commenced after a report was made on an incident that occurred in East Melbourne on August 17.

“The incident occurred at a hotel on Wellington Parade in the early hours of the morning,” the statement read.

“The exact circumstances are yet to be established and the investigation into the incident remains ongoing.”

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