As the Sydney Swans AFLW side gears up for a historic double header, players have been put under an uncomfortable spotlight through no fault of their own.<\/p>\n
However, the focus of the press conferences will almost certainly be on the scandal engulfing the club, which has seen major sponsors suspend dealings with key players and attracted commentary from public figures including Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and Governor-General Sam Mostyn.<\/p>\n
The scandal began with a report of sexual assault, currently being investigated by police, but has broadened to include allegations of drug taking by some players.<\/p>\n
The ABC understands the sexual assault allegation centres on one player allegedly touching a woman without her consent at a Melbourne hotel early on Monday morning.<\/p>\n
Several female adult entertainers are understood to have joined players at the Pullman East Melbourne hotel after being hired in the hours after the team’s win against Essendon on Sunday night.<\/p>\n
The ABC’s Danny Tran and Olivia Jenkins reported on Thursday evening<\/a> that detectives investigating the alleged assault had been told some players paid the women extra to consume drugs off their bodies.<\/p>\n It is understood one of the women was later seen leaving the hotel room in a distressed state, with a Triple Zero (000) call made to police soon after.<\/p>\n The Sydney Swans have been rocked by a scandal in the final week of the regular season. (Getty Images: Matt King\/AFL Photos)<\/p>\n Five Swans players \u2014 vice-captain Isaac Heeney, Chad Warner, James Jordon, Riley Bice and Nick Blakey \u2014 were suspended for the rest of the season<\/a> on Wednesday, though the club was careful to note that the suspensions were for failing to meet club standards, and were not directly related to the allegation being investigated by police.<\/p>\n It is not suggested that any of these players are being accused of sexual assault, and no-one has been arrested or charged in relation to the alleged incident.<\/p>\n Nor is it known how many or which players are alleged to have participated in drug-taking.<\/p>\n PM weighs in as sponsors flee<\/p>\n Speaking to the ABC’s 7.30 on Thursday evening, Mr Albanese criticised the Swans’ initial response to the scandal, during which CEO Matthew Pavlich said he was “shocked and disappointed that this has taken place and that the players have found themselves in this situation”.<\/p>\n Mr Albanese called the response “completely unacceptable”, adding that the AFL and the Swans should “have a good look” at their culture.<\/p>\n It capped off a day in which several major sponsors confirmed to the ABC that they had paused their dealings with the suspended players<\/a>, including Colgate, Volkswagen and Telstra.<\/p>\n Publisher Allen & Unwin said it had paused its publication of the third book in Isaac Heeney’s Little Isaac Footy Fever series, which was due to hit shelves in November, while retailers Gleebooks, Readings and Big W said they had removed Heeney’s books from their stores across Australia.<\/p>\n Isaac Heeney’s children’s books have been pulled from the shelves of several major retailers. (Instagram: Isaac Heeney)<\/p>\n Heeney’s name and image were also removed from promotional materials for 5th Quarter Camps, a company he co-owns alongside Greater Western Sydney captain Toby Greene.<\/p>\n The players who will be on the field on Sunday have sought to present a united front, standing shoulder-to-shoulder during a training session on Wednesday as a photographer snapped away.<\/p>\n However, journalists with links to the club have reported there is a high level of resentment among the ranks over the actions of their teammates, and AFLW sources have told the ABC<\/a> that feeling is echoed in the women’s program.<\/p>\n The ABC understands media will be barred from filming the captain’s runs in the lead-up to the game.<\/p>\n Women involved say they fear retribution<\/p>\n Two of the women involved in the incident spoke to the media on Thursday, including the woman who alleges she was sexually assaulted.<\/p>\n![\"Unidentified](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/australia\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/fd8aa5680e2378cb03551d2384a6ae07.jpeg\")
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