Five Swans Players Stand Down Amid Sexual Assault Probe

Sun Sep 06 2026 01:21:47 GMT+0000 (Coordinated Universal Time)

Sydney Swans suspend five players after police investigation into an alleged sexual assault at a Melbourne hotel.

The Sydney Swans announced the suspension of star players Isaac Heeney, Chad Warner, Nick Blakey, Riley Bice and James Jordon following a police investigation into an alleged sexual assault at the Pullman Hotel after a weekend match. All five were banned for the rest of the AFL season, although none have been charged. The club cited breaches of conduct standards for late‑night drinking and inviting women to the hotel, reflecting AFL's discretionary sanctioning. Victoria Police are conducting an investigation, and club officials remain deeply embarrassed. The move raises questions about player conduct and league policies.

Five Swans Players Stand Down Amid Sexual Assault Probe

The Sydney Swans have suspended five of its players for the remainder of the season amid a police investigation into an alleged sexual assault that took place at the Pullman Hotel in Melbourne.

Isaac Heeney, Chad Warner, Nick Blakey, Riley Bice and James Jordon were all involved in the post‑match celebrations that included late‑night drinking and bringing women to the hotel after a weekend victory.

None of the players have been arrested or charged; the club said the decision was independent of the ongoing police work and was taken to uphold its codes of conduct.

Chief executive Matthew Pavlich said the club was "deeply embarrassed" and stressed the impact "on the women involved and on the club".

Victoria Police have spoken to witnesses at the hotel but have not formally interviewed anyone or made arrests.

The AFL’s disciplinary approach is discretionary, meaning it reviews each case on its merits rather than imposing a blanket stand‑down for serious allegations.

The Swans are currently second on the ladder and will face North Melbourne at the Sydney Cricket Ground before the finals, a match that will go ahead without the suspended players.