Sydney Swans senior coach Dean Cox and captain Callum Mills addressed the media Friday morning regarding an alleged sexual assault that has drawn significant attention to the club.
Five players—Isaac Heeney, Chad Warner, Riley Bice, Nick Blakey, and James Jordon—have been suspended for the remainder of the 2026 AFL season. The club determined these players breached its standards by staying out late, consuming alcohol, and bringing women back to the Pullman East Melbourne hotel early Monday morning. These suspensions are separate from an ongoing Victoria Police investigation into an alleged sexual assault at the hotel.
All implicated players have denied any wrongdoing, and no charges have been laid.
Cox refused to confirm whether other club staff were present in the hotel room with the five players, stating that the matter is part of a police investigation.
Captain Callum Mills issued an apology to AFLW players, female staff, and women in the wider community. "We take these allegations extremely seriously, and we hope the women involved are getting all the support they deserve," Mills said. "We really are disappointed at the actions of these five players, and as a playing group we fully support the club's decisions on the sanctions handed down. We take full responsibility, and we are deeply sorry."
Coach Dean Cox also apologized to the women at the center of the allegations and to women in the community for the players' actions. "We are extremely disappointed at the actions of the players, and the sanctions imposed by the board show how seriously we take these matters," Cox stated. He acknowledged that the Swans' team culture was not "perfect" and expressed a commitment to regaining the community's trust and improving the club's culture.
The five suspended players—Heeney, Warner, Blakey, Bice, and Jordon—released a joint statement expressing their deep regret for their behavior, admitting it fell short of expected standards and the club's values. They acknowledged letting down partners, families, members, supporters, teammates, the AFLW team, corporate partners, and the wider community. The players accepted the club's sanctions and apologized for the impact of their actions, stating their focus is now on rebuilding trust.
In the wake of the allegations, Sydney Swans player Isaac Heeney has faced commercial repercussions. Colgate suspended its deal with Heeney, and his children's books have been removed from bookstore shelves. Heeney has been identified as the focus of the police probe, leading to organizations and companies either suspending partnerships or severing ties with the player and the club.