A Channel 10 reporter has been widely applauded for turning the focus of the alleged Sydney Swans sexual assault incident back towards the woman at the centre of the storm.
The Swans dropped a bombshell on Wednesday morning when the club announced all five players involved in the alleged incident at the club’s hotel on Monday morning have been suspended for the rest of the season.
The club’s investigations into the alleged incident that occurred at the Pullman Hotel in East Melbourne following the team’s win over Essendon at the MCG on Sunday night is entirely separate from an ongoing investigation being carried out by Victoria Police Sexual Crimes Squad.
The Herald Sun first revealed police swarmed the team’s hotel on Monday.
Victoria Police have confirmed investigations continue following a report of sexual assault.
Network 10 journalist Rebeka Powell has now been widely praised for making a post on Instagram where she issued a reminder the “individual at the centre of the story” should not be lost.
“Regardless of the outcome of this investigation, there is a woman who has now found herself at the centre of an incredibly public and difficult situation,” Powell wrote on Instagram when sharing a videos of her live crosses for 10 News.
“Across four live crosses to three different states tonight, I probably fumbled plenty of words — but this was the one sentence I felt a real duty to get right.
“A small reminder that behind the cameras, headlines and the “mainstream media” label are journalists trying to do this job with empathy, professionalism and humanity, and to never lose sight of the individual at the centre of a story when so much noise surrounds them.”
You can watch the reports in the video player above.
She signed off those live crosses by saying: “I think the more important question tonight, at the centre of all this, is how that woman is fairing”.
In another cross, Powell said: “We hope tonight that she is getting all the support that she needs”.
Her post has been widely praised by Instagram users.
She shared another video on her Instagram stories on Tuesday night where she acknowledged the widespread support she has received.
“Thanks for everyone who reached out,” she posted.
“I’m grateful for the response, but also saddened that simply that acknowledging the welfare of the person at the centre of a story like this has stood out so much. It shouldn’t be unusual.”
She went on to write: “The people whose lives suddenly become headlines don’t get to move on quite so easily.
“And to the woman at the centre of this story, if this ever reaches you, you don’t owe the public anything.
“You don’t owe anyone a statement, an explanation or access to your experience.
“But if there is ever something you want understood, clarified, or simply heard, you are very welcome to reach out to me directly.”
Among those to respond to Powell’s video was the woman raped by Tom Silvagni in 2024.
That woman wrote a heartfelt message on Instagram, imploring people to remember there is a real person at the centre of stories like this.
Silvagni, the son of Carlton great Stephen Silvagni, was sentenced to six years and two months’ jail in December after he was found guilty by a County Court jury of two counts of rape.
Leading football journalist Lauren Wood is also being widely praised for highlighting the issues the woman at the centre of the Swans storm is facing.
“It’s part of the issue; the ramifications for these Sydney players in a work sense. But, it’s not the heart of the issue here which falls with the alleged victims,” the Herald Sun reporter said on Fox Footy.
“These players may face weeks on the sidelines, (but) these women could face years — a lifetime of pain — to stem from this. They are serious allegations, and they are only allegations at this stage.
“No one yet knows the facts, only the allegations that have been made. It is worth noting, and I know others have made this point today, that one in five Australian women over the age of 15 will experience sexual violence in their lifetime.
“That’s one in five footy fans. That’s one in five club members, that’s one in five AFLW players. They are really stark statistics, and really goes to the heart of this issue — particularly in Australian society.
“I think it’s really important in this scenario not to ignore or sideline that in any way. As I say, the Sydney factor and the ramifications that these players may face, and how it affects their finals series: yes, that really affects them.
“That is important in a football sense, which is, we are football journalists — this is a football show. But, it cannot be ignored at the cost of what these women are alleging has occurred, and what they (allege) they have been through. That is really the heart of the issue.”
According to The Herald Sun, two women approached hotel staff and demanded to be let back into one of the guest rooms at around 7am (AEST).
It is also alleged one of the women ran into the toilets crying prior to the police arriving. She was described as “hysterical” and “upset”.
The two women were reportedly “agitated” in the lobby.
After being told they could not return to the room, they allegedly began remonstrating with Swans officials, including Cox.
Prior to a third woman arriving at the hotel, Swans staff could be heard telling the two women they were unaware of an incident.
A source reported hearing one woman telling hotel staff: “We have everything recorded of what those AFL players did to our friend in that room”.
Swans chief executive Matthew Pavlich on Wednesday addressed questions from reporters about the women present inside the team’s hotel before one woman made a report of sexual assault.
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 went on to say about the five players: “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 before one woman made a report of sexual assault to Victoria Police.
Swans chairman Andrew Pridham did not single out the women involved in the alleged incident but made a “sincere apology” to the “community”.
It was previously alleged a perceived breach of personal boundaries is at the centre of a police investigation.
One source claimed a Swans player had arranged for at least two women to join the squad at the Wellington Parade hotel in the early hours of Monday morning.
It came after a group of more than half a dozen players had been out for dinner and drinks in Melbourne.
A commotion reportedly ensued in the hotel room of one player, with “one of the women claiming their understanding of what was ‘off limits’ was breached”, according to a source.
Following the alleged incident, the woman is said to have left the room before confronting hotel staff in the lobby.
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