Swans speak as five players are banned from AFL season
Swans chairman Andrew Pridham and chief executive Matthew Pavlich have for the first time shared details of the hotel incident which has resulted in five players being banned for the season.
The club earlier announced the bombshell news Riley Bice, Nick Blakey, Isaac Heeney, James Jordon and Chad Warner have been wiped out for the season as the club wrapped up its investigation into a late night incident at the Pullman Hotel following the team’s win over Essendon at the MCG on August 16.
Pridham began the August 19 press conference by making an official apology.
“At the outset I want to offer an apology, a sincere apology, to the community to the many fans, the corporate partners, who have been amazingly supportive of us,” he said.
Pavlich said: “To say we are disappointed is an understatement. We’re deeply embarrassed and ashamed that the poor choices from five of our players and the impact that’s had on the women involved”.
Pavlich was asked directly about the women who were present inside the team’s hotel on Wellington Parade in East Melbourne.
He replied: “We are deeply concerned about their welfare and their wellbeing.
“We offer as much support as we can. They are the ones who are impacted severely at the moment and we are here to acknowledge those allegations.”
He said the club has not attempted to contact the women involved.
