Sydney Swans coach Dean Cox has confirmed all five of the players stood down by the club will remain suspended after Riley Bice was cleared by police as part of an investigation into an alleged sexual assault.
Victoria Police confirmed detectives from the Sexual Crimes Squad travelled to Sydney this week to speak to four players linked to the investigation.
Swans Isaac Heeney, Chad Warner, Nick Blakey, James Jordon and Riley Bice were stood down over a breach of club standards following the alleged incident at the Pullman East Melbourne hotel on August 17.
Heeney, Warner, Blakey and Jordon were interviewed.
Bice has been cleared and is assisting in the investigation solely as a witness, but remains suspended by the club.
Cox said the suspension was based on a breach of behavioural standards, so while Bice has been cleared by police, he remained stood down.
“All five will remain stood down from the football club,” he said.
“That is one thing that we spoke about at the start of the police investigation.
“The behavioural nature of it was going to be separated, that will still remain.”
The Sydney Swans previously released a statement suspending the five players.
“We respect there is an ongoing investigation by Victoria Police and any actions we take are independent of this,” the statement said.
“The club believes the players are in serious breach of expected club behaviour and standards, and it is appropriate to take firm action and highlight that any sanction we impose relates solely to those breaches.”
Police confirmed on Wednesday that there were 10 people in the room at the time of the alleged incident, including three alleged victims and three witnesses.
“Investigators also spoke to or will speak to three men believed to be in the hotel room at the time of the incident, who are being treated solely as witnesses at this time,” police said.
“Police now believe they have identified all parties who were in the room at the time of the alleged incident and are not looking for anyone further.
“The investigation into the circumstances remains active and ongoing.”
The investigation centres on allegations made by three adult entertainers who were booked to perform for Swans players at the hotel following their defeat of Essendon at the MCG on August 16.
News24.com.au is not suggesting any criminal wrongdoing by the players, and their suspensions are separate to the ongoing police investigation.
The group of players released an apology after the allegations emerged, saying they are “deeply sorry to everyone involved”.
“We know that our behaviour has fallen well short of the standards expected of us and the values of our club,” they said.
“We know we have let down our partners and families, members, supporters, teammates, the AFLW team, corporate partners and everyone at the club and the wider community.
“Our focus will now be on rebuilding trust with the club and the community.”