Sydney Swans to Relocate Grand Final Accommodation Amidst Player Suspensions and Police Probe

The Sydney Swans are poised to change their accommodation in Melbourne should they advance to the AFL Grand Final, opting for The Como in South Yarra instead of the Pullman in East Melbourne, a hotel that has been the site of a police investigation into alleged sexual assault.

The team is currently preparing for a potential premiership campaign, despite the significant setback of having five players suspended for breaches of team standards. These sanctions are distinct from the police investigation, which has reportedly involved interviews with several of the suspended players.

Sydney is one win away from securing a Grand Final berth, having recently defeated Fremantle in the qualifying final. This victory came despite the absence of captain Callum Mills due to injury and the five aforementioned players who are out for the season. The suspended players are Isaac Heeney, Chad Warner, Nick Blakey, James Jordon, and Riley Bice. Club officials indicated that the breaches of club standards included late-night drinking and allegedly bringing dancers to hotel rooms.

Police have interviewed Heeney, Warner, Blakey, and Jordon in connection with the sexual assault allegations. Bice is reportedly being treated as a witness and is no longer a person of interest. The players have denied any criminal wrongdoing, and no charges have been filed.

The Swans' decision regarding accommodation is complicated by the fact that they also stayed at The Como during their 2024 Grand Final campaign. It remains unclear if Sydney specifically requested to avoid the Pullman or if it was a pre-existing arrangement.

Meanwhile, if the Brisbane Lions reach the Grand Final, they intend to continue using the Pullman as their Melbourne base, a hotel they have utilized in previous seasons. Brisbane is set to play Hawthorn in the other preliminary final.

On the field, the Swans have demonstrated resilience in the face of player absences. They secured a decisive 53-point victory over Brisbane in the qualifying final, with Tom Papley contributing five goals. Despite captain Mills leaving that game early, veteran defender Dane Rampe has taken over as stand-in captain. Papley has expressed confidence in the squad's ability to perform regardless of who is playing, emphasizing a "next man up" mentality. He highlighted the team's strong performance against Brisbane as proof of their potential to defeat any opponent in the competition.