More details have surfaced regarding a controversial party at the Pullman East Melbourne hotel involving five Sydney Swans players, which led to them being stood down and barred from the Brownlow Medal event. A source close to the events alleges that one of the female entertainers hired for the party experienced what she believed to be carbon dioxide poisoning due to a poorly ventilated room, and that another Swans player, not among the group of five, intervened to assist her.
The incident occurred in the early hours of August 17, the day after the Sydney Swans' victory over Essendon. While teammates, coaches, and club officials were gathering in the hotel lobby in official attire ahead of their flight home, a situation was escalating on the eighth floor.
The Party and the Performance
Three women from the 'Party Girls Melbourne' agency were hired for private performances. The women reportedly believed they were hired by tradesmen after being told the clients were 'carpenters.' The discrepancy became clear when the entertainers descended to the lobby and saw the players in their official club attire.
According to a source, the women negotiated fees for lap dances, agreeing to a reduced rate of $200 per dancer due to the late hour and their perception of the men's earnings. The standard fee for such performances is typically between $250 and $300, in addition to the agency's booking fee. During the performances, some physical contact was reportedly permitted, with one instance involving an extra $50 payment for a specific interaction.
Medical Episode and Intervention
Shortly after the performances concluded, one of the entertainers began to feel unwell. While previous reports suggested an asthma attack, a source claims the woman believed she was suffering from carbon dioxide poisoning from the crowded, stuffy room. The situation intensified when she reportedly left the room topless in search of fresh air, seeking assistance in the hallway.
This player, Isaac Heeney, Chad Warner, Nick Blakey, Riley Bice, and James Jordon, were later stood down by the club. The source claims that another Swans player, walking down the hallway, encountered the distressed woman, offered assistance, and helped her back to the room.
Fallout and Confrontation
The entertainer and her companions later went downstairs, where they encountered club officials, including coach Dean Cox, to voice their complaints. The presence of the women and the unfolding situation attracted attention from other hotel guests and staff. A message describing the scene, circulating on WhatsApp, indicated that the women were being asked to leave the hotel and mentioned they had recordings of the events.
The following day, two women filed police complaints alleging sexual assault, with a third woman lodging a similar report later in the week. The Sydney Swans have confirmed that their internal investigations indicated that only the five named players were present in the room central to the police investigation. No charges have been laid, and the Daily Mail notes that there is no suggestion of wrongdoing by the named players or any other club representatives in the room. The women involved have reportedly engaged civil lawyers, and police have advised them not to contact each other during the ongoing investigations.