The club\u2019s investigations into the alleged incident that occurred at the Pullman Hotel in East Melbourne following the team\u2019s 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.<\/p>\n
The Herald Sun first revealed police swarmed the team\u2019s hotel on Monday.<\/p>\n
Victoria Police have confirmed investigations continue following a report of sexual assault. <\/p>\n
Network 10 journalist Rebeka Powell has now been widely praised for making a post on Instagram where she issued a reminder the \u201cindividual at the centre of the story\u201d should not be lost.<\/p>\n
\u201cRegardless 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,\u201d Powell wrote on Instagram when sharing a videos of her live crosses for 10 News.<\/p>\n
\u201cAcross four live crosses to three different states tonight, I probably fumbled plenty of words \u2014 but this was the one sentence I felt a real duty to get right.<\/p>\n
\u201cA small reminder that behind the cameras, headlines and the \u201cmainstream media\u201d 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.\u201d<\/p>\n
You can watch the reports in the video player above. <\/p>\n
She signed off those live crosses by saying: \u201cI think the more important question tonight, at the centre of all this, is how that woman is fairing\u201d.<\/p>\n
In another cross, Powell said: \u201cWe hope tonight that she is getting all the support that she needs\u201d. <\/p>\n
Her post has been widely praised by Instagram users. <\/p>\n
She shared another video on her Instagram stories on Tuesday night where she acknowledged the widespread support she has received. <\/p>\n
\u201cThanks for everyone who reached out,\u201d she posted. <\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m 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\u2019t be unusual.\u201d<\/p>\n
She went on to write: \u201cThe people whose lives suddenly become headlines don\u2019t get to move on quite so easily.<\/p>\n
\u201cAnd to the woman at the centre of this story, if this ever reaches you, you don\u2019t owe the public anything. <\/p>\n
\u201cYou don\u2019t owe anyone a statement, an explanation or access to your experience. <\/p>\n
\u201cBut if there is ever something you want understood, clarified, or simply heard, you are very welcome to reach out to me directly.\u201d<\/p>\n
Among those to respond to Powell\u2019s video was the woman raped by Tom Silvagni in 2024. <\/p>\n
That woman wrote a heartfelt message on Instagram, imploring people to remember there is a real person at the centre of stories like this.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Silvagni, the son of Carlton great Stephen Silvagni, was sentenced to six years and two months\u2019 jail in December after he was found guilty by a County Court jury of two counts of rape.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s part of the issue; the ramifications for these Sydney players in a work sense. But, it\u2019s not the heart of the issue here which falls with the alleged victims,\u201d the Herald Sun reporter said on Fox Footy.<\/p>\n
\u201cThese players may face weeks on the sidelines, (but) these women could face years \u2014 a lifetime of pain \u2014 to stem from this. They are serious allegations, and they are only allegations at this stage.<\/p>\n
\u201cNo 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.<\/p>\n
\u201cThat\u2019s one in five footy fans. That\u2019s one in five club members, that\u2019s one in five AFLW players. They are really stark statistics, and really goes to the heart of this issue \u2014 particularly in Australian society.<\/p>\n
\u201cI think it\u2019s 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.<\/p>\n
\u201cThat is important in a football sense, which is, we are football journalists \u2014 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.\u201d<\/p>\n
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).<\/p>\n
It is also alleged one of the women ran into the toilets crying prior to the police arriving. She was described as \u201chysterical\u201d and \u201cupset\u201d.<\/p>\n
The two women were reportedly \u201cagitated\u201d in the lobby.<\/p>\n
After being told they could not return to the room, they allegedly began remonstrating with Swans officials, including Cox.<\/p>\n
Prior to a third woman arriving at the hotel, Swans staff could be heard telling the two women they were unaware of an incident.<\/p>\n
A source reported hearing one woman telling hotel staff: \u201cWe have everything recorded of what those AFL players did to our friend in that room\u201d.<\/p>\n
Swans chief executive Matthew Pavlich on Wednesday addressed questions from reporters about the women present inside the team\u2019s hotel before one woman made a report of sexual assault.<\/p>\n
He replied: \u201cWe are deeply concerned about their welfare and their wellbeing.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe 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.\u201d<\/p>\n
He went on to say about the five players: \u201cTo say we are disappointed is an understatement.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019re deeply embarrassed and ashamed that the poor choices from five of our players and the impact that\u2019s had on the women involved\u201d.<\/p>\n
Pavlich was asked directly about the women who were present inside the team\u2019s hotel before one woman made a report of sexual assault to Victoria Police.<\/p>\n
Swans chairman Andrew Pridham did not single out the women involved in the alleged incident but made a \u201csincere apology\u201d to the \u201ccommunity\u201d.<\/p>\n
It was previously alleged a perceived breach of personal boundaries is at the centre of a police investigation.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
It came after a group of more than half a dozen players had been out for dinner and drinks in Melbourne.<\/p>\n
A commotion reportedly ensued in the hotel room of one player, with \u201cone of the women claiming their understanding of what was \u2018off limits\u2019 was breached\u201d, according to a source.<\/p>\n
Following the alleged incident, the woman is said to have left the room before confronting hotel staff in the lobby.<\/p>\n