Source :- PERTH NOW NEWS
The Sydney Swans have reportedly given the AFL’s integrity unit audio of a conversation between the three women at the centre of the Swans hotel scandal.
The audio is understood to have been recorded after the three women departed the Pullman Hotel in Melbourne in the early hours of Monday morning, following the Swans’ win over Essendon at the MCG.
Swans players Chad Warner, Nick Blakey, James Jordon, Riley Bice and Isaac Heeney have been stood down for the remainder of the AFL season as police continue to investigate the alleged sexual assault.
On Saturday, new details reported by 3AW Melbourne, claimed the Swans have been made aware of the audio, with the club passing it onto the AFL’s integrity unit to investigation.
“Fresh information emerged yesterday morning. It was conveyed to the Swans, it hasn’t been confirmed, but the Sydney Swans have been contacted by a connection to one of the three women that are involved in these allegations,” reporter Caroline Wilson told 3AW Melbourne.
Ms Wilson continued: “One of their connections has contacted the club claiming to have audio of the women speaking together after they returned home from the Pullman Hotel.
“Just a conversation about where they might take this, what they might report to police and where this might end for them.
“This information, or this particular connection, his details have been passed on to the AFL’s integrity unit and my understanding is from there the integrity unit…that might be passed on to police, who we know were up in Sydney yesterday.
“Melbourne detectives interviewed Sydney staff, not the players involved.
“Sydney are aware of it. Sydney believe it could exist and they have passed the contact number of one of the connections involved onto the AFL’s integrity unit.
“Sydney make it quite clear that none of this exonerates the players from what they did. Their futures remain clouded.”
It is believed the audio was recorded by a third party and it is not yet known if the women have knowledge of it.
It comes as the Sydney Swans are set to take on North Melbourne at the SCG on Sunday afternoon (3.20pm AWST), in the club’s final home game of the season. The Swans AFLW team taking the field at 12.30pm AEST.
Supporters of the club were considering walking out, with the scandal leaving supporters divided over whether they can bring themselves to stay for the men’s match.
On Saturday the Sydney Swans issued a fresh statement after Victoria Police confirmed a number of people have been spoken to as part of its investigation into the hotel incident.
Victoria Police said in a statement “a number of people” have been spoken to as detectives continue their inquiries.
“Detectives from the Sexual Crimes Squad continue to investigate a report of a sexual assault in East Melbourne on 17 August,” the force said.
Police added the investigation remained “active and ongoing” and they would not provide further details about the specific circumstances of the matter, movements of detectives or any statements or interviews taken.
In response to the statement, the club said: “The Sydney Swans supports the action taken by Victoria Police in releasing today’s statement regarding the investigation.
“The Sydney Swans categorically confirms that no member of staff is involved in the investigation. This includes being in the hotel room central to the police investigation.
“The club reiterates that no player has been interviewed by police at this stage.”
No player has been arrested or charged and the Swans have repeatedly stressed their sanctions are separate to the ongoing police investigation. This masthead is not suggesting any players are guilty of any criminal wrongdoing.
National Sexual Abuse and Redress Support Service: 1800 211 028
