Steffie Waters, fiancée of Sydney Swans player Isaac Heeney, has been subjected to online abuse following allegations involving Heeney and four teammates at a Melbourne hotel. The incident reportedly involved exotic dancers, and Heeney has become a focal point of a Victoria Police investigation into an alleged sexual assault at the Pullman East Melbourne hotel.
Heeney, along with teammates Chad Warner, Riley Bice, Nick Blakey, and James Jordon, allegedly stayed out drinking and brought women back to their hotel. The club has stood down all five players for the remainder of the 2026 AFL season for breaching club standards, including staying out late, drinking, and bringing women to the hotel. Victoria Police have launched a separate investigation, though no charges have been laid.
Reports indicate that the players were in a room with women, with one performing lap dances. Heeney, who was reportedly clothed during the alleged incident, has become the subject of a complaint to the police.
Waters, engaged to Heeney since 2025, has reportedly traveled to Noosa and shut down comments on her Instagram page due to the trolling. Some of the comments directed at her and Heeney have been described as too offensive for publication.
In the wake of the scandal, Heeney's publisher, Allen & Unwin, has removed promotional content for his children's book series, 'Little Isaac Footy Fever,' from its Instagram page. Colgate, a sponsor of Heeney, has suspended its partnership pending the investigation's completion, stating it takes such matters seriously.
Earlier this year, Heeney, who recently turned 30, posted a YouTube video documenting the renovation of his Sydney home, which he dubbed 'Heeney HQ.' The video showed him and Waters discussing design choices for the property.
Swans captain Callum Mills addressed the situation, apologizing to the club's AFLW players, female staff, and women in the wider community. He stated the club takes the allegations extremely seriously and supports the sanctions imposed. "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," Mills said.
Teammate Tom McCartin also expressed disappointment and hoped the women involved were receiving adequate support. He acknowledged that the Swans' team culture had been impacted and emphasized the importance of the club's response.
Responding to widespread allegations that club staff were present in the hotel room, the Sydney Swans issued a statement confirming that their investigations indicated only the five players were in the room. The club stated it believes reports to the contrary are false and is considering legal action regarding misinformation. The club urged fans to support both the men's and women's teams at an upcoming double-header event.
None of the five players stood down have been arrested or charged with any offenses.