Sydney Swans players cleared over Melbourne hotel incident

Summarised from 5 outlets · 6 reports · Updated 13 Nov, 12:21 · Archive

Victoria Police will not charge four Sydney Swans players investigated over an alleged sexual assault at a Melbourne hotel in August.

Victoria Police announced on Friday that it will not proceed with criminal charges against four Sydney Swans players investigated over an alleged sexual assault at a Melbourne hotel. Isaac Heeney, Chad Warner, James Jordon and Nick Blakey had been under investigation since late August following an alleged incident at the Pullman Hotel in the early hours of 17 August.

Police said the decision was based on a thorough investigation and legal advice, citing insufficient evidence. A police statement added that due to an ongoing civil matter, it was unable to comment further.

The investigation concerned allegations made by three women, understood to be adult entertainers, who had been hired to join the players at the hotel following the Swans' win against Essendon. The ABC reports the investigation centred on a player allegedly touching one of the women without her consent. The BBC reports that one woman was seen leaving the hotel room in a distressed state, with an emergency call made soon after.

All four players had been suspended by the Swans in August for breaching the club's standards, including drinking and bringing women back to their hotel. The players previously denied any criminal wrongdoing but apologised for breaching club standards. A fifth player, Riley Bice, who was also suspended, had already been cleared by police.

Isaac Heeney welcomed the decision in a statement, saying the past three months had been 'incredibly difficult' for his family and thanking those who had stood by him and the club for keeping faith in him.

However, lawyers representing the three women have confirmed they are continuing to pursue civil action. Jackson Pannam, acting for one woman, said the police decision 'does not amount to a finding that the incident our client reported did not occur' and that the woman was 'devastated'. John Karantzis, representing the other two women, told the ABC his clients were 'very disappointed and distressed' and would 'vigorously pursue' civil action.

The scandal prompted the Sydney Swans to engage external advisers to undertake an independent review of the club's culture, particularly following forward Tom Papley's alleged positive roadside drug test the previous week.

How it is being reported

• The graphic WhatsApp photo. The cut-price lap dance. The medical 'emergency'. Moment by moment, what sources say happened - and didn't happen - inside the Sydney Swans' hotel room - as police rule out chargesFor three months, DailyMail+ followed the Sydney Swans hotel scandal from the Pullman corridor to the police decision. Now get the full story.Daily Mail Sport · 13 Nov, 09:26
• Sydney Swans players will not face charges over hotel sexual assault, police sayThree women are pursuing civil action against playersIndependent Sport · 13 Nov, 07:58
• Australian footballers will not be charged after hotel incident, police sayFour Sydney Swans players had been under investigation after an alleged sexual assault after a game in Melbourne.BBC World · 13 Nov, 01:03
• Sydney Swans players will not face charges over sex assault investigationVictoria Police say a thorough investigation has concluded there is insufficient evidence to lay charges over the incident at a Melbourne hotel in August.ABC News Australia · 12 Nov, 23:56
• Police decide not to charge Sydney Swans players over incident in Melbourne hotelHeeney, Warner, Blakey and Jordon had been under investigation Quartet among five Swans suspended by club in August Victoria police have decided not to charge four Sydney Swans players who were under investigation over an alleged sexual assault at a Melbourne hotel earlier this year. Sydney vice-captain Isaac Heeney as well as James Jordon, Chad Warner and Nick Blakey – the latter now a North Melbourne player – are understood to have assisted police with their investigation but will have no further case to answer. Continue reading...Guardian Sport · 12 Nov, 23:51
• Sydney Swans CLEARED: Players at centre of Pullman hotel stripper scandal will not face sexual assault chargesThe Sydney Swans players at the centre of the Pullman hotel stripper scandal will not be charged with sexual assault.Daily Mail · 12 Nov, 23:47

In this story: Isaac Heeney · Chad Warner · James Jordon · Nick Blakey · Sydney Swans · Victoria Police · Pullman Hotel Melbourne

This summary was written by AI from the headlines and standfirsts above, and states as fact only what at least two outlets report. How we use AI · Report a problem · Corrections log