Source : ABC NEWS
Sydney Swans coach Dean Cox says he is “disappointed” over allegations of sexual assault involving several players in Melbourne on Sunday night and that the club will have more to say on the issue today.
The ABC understands Chad Warner, Isaac Heeney, James Jordon and Riley Bice are the players linked to the investigation. However, there is no confirmation that they were directly involved or that all four have spoken to police.
It is understood a fifth player who has also been publicly connected to the incident has not spoken to police.
The incident has delayed the announcement of the AFL’s 46-player All Australian squad, which was to have been named today but has now been pushed back to Monday.
Police are continuing to investigate an alleged assault at the Pullman Hotel near the MCG, where the Swans were staying following their 36-point win over Essendon.
Victoria Police issued a statement on Monday saying detectives were investigating a report of a sexual assault in East Melbourne.
Victoria Police said the exact circumstances are yet to be established, and the investigation remains ongoing.
Police were investigating the alleged sexual assault at the Pullman Hotel in east Melbourne. (ABC News)
On Tuesday morning, Cox spoke briefly to the media outside the Swans’ headquarters in Sydney.
“Obviously extremely disappointed with what’s happened and we understand there are questions and we’ll update as we gather more information,” he said.
Cox said it was too early to say whether the players involved would face sanctions from the AFL.
“We’re working our way through everything with the AFL and the relevant parties, and we’ll update when we get more information,” he said.
He said he had not yet spoken to the players but would do so “as the day unfolds”.
At least one Swans player was expected to be named in the All Australian squad, which was due to be named today but has now been delayed.
Players named in the team were due to appear onstage at the AFL Awards Night on Tuesday next week.
Matthew Pavlich says the club is looking into what happened in Melbourne.
Swans chief executive Matthew Pavlich said on Monday that the club was still piecing together what happened in Melbourne and was undertaking its own internal inquiries.
“Safe to say, we’re extremely shocked and disappointed that this has taken place and that the players have found themselves in this situation,” he said.
“We understand the level of interest in the matter, and there’s going to be lots of speculation, but given it’s a police matter right now, that’s all that we can say.”
The AFL is yet to comment beyond the brief statement the organisation released yesterday.
“The club made the AFL aware of the matter which is currently under Victoria Police investigation,” the statement read.
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