Sydney Swans players reportedly claimed to be carpenters when speaking with exotic dancers prior to an alleged incident that has led to a crisis for the Australian Football League club. Victoria Police officials traveled to Sydney on Thursday to conduct further interviews related to a reported sexual assault at the Pullman hotel in East Melbourne.
According to Fox Footy reporter Tom Morris, when asked about their professions, the players identified themselves as "carpenters." The investigation centers on events that occurred after the Sydney Swans defeated Essendon at the Melbourne Cricket Ground on Sunday. Players from the team reportedly went for drinks, with some returning to the Pullman East Melbourne hotel in the early hours of Monday. Women were reported to have arrived at the hotel shortly after 4 a.m.
Distressed women later approached hotel staff and Swans officials in the hotel foyer, prompting police attendance at the building. The exact circumstances surrounding the reported assault are still under investigation, and no charges have been laid. Victoria Police have not publicly identified any suspects, though several Swans players have spoken voluntarily with detectives.
Team Response
In the wake of the unfolding situation, Sydney Swans players were observed linking arms in a training huddle at the Sydney Cricket Ground. Captain Callum Mills and head coach Dean Cox addressed the group during a somber training session as the team attempts to regroup ahead of their upcoming AFL finals campaign. Isaac Heeney, Chad Warner, Nick Blakey, James Jordon, and Riley Bice were absent from the main training group. These five players have been ruled out of selection for the remainder of the 2026 season.
The club's decision to impose these penalties was based on their determination that the five players had breached the club's behavioral standards. This club action is separate from the ongoing police investigation and does not represent a finding regarding the alleged sexual assault.