IN FULL: Sydney Swans stand by culture as club details reasons behind player sanctions
Sydney Swans chairman Andrew Pridham has apologised to the club’s fans and corporate partners over the conduct of five players who have been stood down after the club found they had breached its standards on the night they were linked to a sexual assault investigation.
But he did not apologise to the women affected in the incident, confirming the club had made no contact with them as it was a “police matter”.
Pridham and Sydney Swans CEO Matthew Pavlich fronted media on Wednesday afternoon, hours after the club confirmed Riley Bice, Nick Blakey, Isaac Heeney, James Jordon and Chad Warner would not be considered for selection for the remainder of the season, including the finals.
The sanctions follow an incident at the Pullman Hotel in East Melbourne that is being investigated by Victoria Police as an alleged sexual assault.
Five players were linked to the investigation and have not been arrested or charged.
It is not suggested the five players have been accused of sexual assault.
However, they said the sanctions were in response to their own “standards breach” — including staying out late, drinking, and “bringing women back to the hotel” — and independent of the Victoria Police investigation.
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