The five Sydney Swans embroiled in the Melbourne hotel scandal will not be invited to the AFL\u2019s coveted Brownlow Medal night.<\/p>\n
Isaac Heeney, Chad Warner, Nick Blakey, James Jordon and Riley Bice were suspended last week for breaching club standards after a win over Essendon.<\/p>\n
Victoria Police\u2019s sexual crimes unit is investigating sexual assault allegations after the five players invited women back to the Pullman East Melbourne hotel.<\/p>\n
There is no suggestion any of the five players are guilty of sexual assault, only that there is an active police investigation.<\/p>\n
AFL chief executive Andrew Dillon fronted the media for the first time on Monday morning, declaring the players would not be invited to the event.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe invitations for the Brownlow will be going out this week \u2013 those players won\u2019t be invited,\u201d Dillon said.<\/p>\n
Collingwood star Nick Daicos is the runaway favourite for the Brownlow Medal, but Warner is in contention to win goal of the year, which is also presented on the night.<\/p>\n
\u201cThey are still eligible for the Brownlow, but they\u2019re under a club suspension which goes until the end of the season,\u201d Dillon said.<\/p>\n
Dillon opened the finals launch in Melbourne with a statement on the importance of respecting women.<\/p>\n
He later conceded the incident had overshadowed the finals series but hoped the game would bring supporters together.<\/p>\n
\u201cI think it is a fair statement but what we saw yesterday is that how footy is a place people can come together,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
\u201cI think we\u2019ll see that during the finals series, it\u2019s a really serious matter being investigated by the police.<\/p>\n
\u201cBut I think the finals and footy is a way people can come together.\u201d<\/p>\n
Sydney played its first game since the alleged incident on Sunday, defeating North Melbourne at the Sydney Cricket Ground.<\/p>\n
The Swans finished second on the ladder and will host at least two finals, starting with premiership favourite Brisbane.<\/p>\n
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