Source :- THE AGE NEWS
Sydney reassured Essendon the Bombers’ incoming coach Mark McVeigh was not embroiled in the scandal surrounding the Swans and the events that unfolded at the Pullman East Melbourne a week ago.
McVeigh said he was stunned when he learnt about the wild party at the Swans’ team hotel, which led to Isaac Heeney, Nick Blakey, Chad Warner, Riley Bice and James Jordon being suspended for the rest of the season by their club for breaching behavioural standards.
“Just shocked, absolutely shocked,” McVeigh said. “Really disappointed and shocked.”
McVeigh said he did not expect to be questioned by police as part of their investigation. Four Swans officials – senior coach Dean Cox, football boss Leon Cameron, head of player wellbeing and development Brett Kirk and head of media and communications Tom Chadwick – have given statements to police over a separate investigation an alleged sexual assault at the same hotel.
The chaos took place as McVeigh was in the final steps of the Essendon coach search process. McVeigh was formally announced as coach on Monday and officially unveiled at the Hangar on Tuesday morning.
“I think the Swans got on the front foot and delivered the news to the appropriate people about, ‘Look, they’re not directly involved at all’,” McVeigh said.
“I felt comfortable. I didn’t feel moved to ring the footy club at all. I was OK, and you know I’m not here to speak to the Sydney Swans culture. I’m here for the Essendon footy club.”
There was speculation early in the week that staff members may have been with the five players. But the Swans released a statement emphasising that the players suspended were the only members of Sydney staff in the room and condemned some of what they described as misinformation being reported.
The Bombers were liaising with several Sydney officials as part of the due diligence relating to McVeigh’s candidacy given his time at the club.
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