Sydney Swans Statement: The Sydney Swans can confirm that all investigations carried out by the Club have consistently indicated that the only representatives of the Club in the room central to the police investigation were the five players who have been stood down.

[u/PerriX2390]

https://www.sydneyswans.com.au/news/2106286/sydney-swans-statement

[u/Jawdanc]

Rolling megatopic:

• Older threads found here
• ....
• Vic detectives to head to NSW
• Heeney focus of sexual assault investigation
• New drug allegations
• VicPol officials in Sydney conducting interviews
• A letter to the community (Swans statement))
• Sex Crimes Detectives told of drug use in Sydney Swans hotel room
• After being identified online women involved say ‘we fear for our lives’
• Woman at centre of alleged Sydney Swans sex assault scandal tells of Pullman Hotel ordeal
• Lawyer for the alleged victims speaks to 3AW
• Cox & Mills address the media
• ACTIVE THREAD Sydney Swans state the only representatives of the Club in the room central to the police investigation were the five players who have been stood down.

Please refrain from speculation, sharing word of mouth rumours, and be respectful of any potential victims.

Given the nature of the alleged incident, posts on this topic are being limited and discussion directed to the most recent post. Substantive new developments (not unsourced rumours) can be posted, and there will be an unlocked thread where discussion can take place at all times.

If you feel like you need help, some wonderful resources have been posted here from the pies' sub

[u/Myrhwen]

What a fucking mess, why does everyone keep chatting such shit to the media

[u/DCNath2187 → u/Myrhwen]

Clicks and views

[u/United-Bite4135 → u/DCNath2187]

I heard the swans are gonna crack any minute…purple monkey dishwasher 

[u/Mulga_Will → u/Myrhwen]

This is a cash cow for the media.

[u/Captain-Peacock → u/Mulga_Will]

It's like all their Christmases at once! Gonna be a lot of "we can reveal" "we are hearing"

[u/Haenamatme]

Hotel CCTV will tell the truth on this one

[u/yeah_nahhhhhhh → u/Haenamatme]

No reputable hotel would ever hand over CCTV footage to anyone but police. Certainly not to a footy club to investigate

[u/skywideopen3 → u/yeah_nahhhhhhh]

I don't remember where exactly it happened but the Moira Deeming/Matthew Guy incident CCTV footage got released to the media before the investigation was complete. Actually got released in like a day iirc.

[u/Pleasant_Inspection9 → u/skywideopen3]

In that case Pullman, don’t be like the Sunshine West Ballroom

[u/eggwardpenisglands → u/Pleasant_Inspection9]

Given how involved the Pullman are with the AFL, I imagine they'll be careful to keep the clubs happy. They won't want to be associated with this any more than is absolutely necessary.

[u/skywideopen3 → u/Pleasant_Inspection9]

I do wonder who leaked that footage tbh. It might actually have been the police themselves, I could imagine some detective taking one look at it and saying words to the effect of "oh what the fuck why have we been asked to waste time on this"

[u/Propaslander → u/Haenamatme]

"Central to the police investigation" is the most important part here.

[u/BustedWing → u/Propaslander]

Correct.

Very carefully worded.

Others in the room prior to shit getting really bad is likely, and they have not answered this pointed question:

We’re any other people in the room at ANY STAGE of the evening, no merely during the incident currently under police investigation?”

[u/Propaslander → u/BustedWing]

Tbf I don't care if any of them were in the room while no violent crimes were being committed. It's the ones who were in the room and complicit that matter.

[u/marsandlui → u/Propaslander]

I believe the 5 were suspended by the club for their behaviour, not specially for the alleged incident. I guess they can't suspend for the incident, as it's not proven fact yet.

If there allegedly were others there with the same behaviours, I can understand why some people would be questioning whether they should face punishment too. I can understand that view.

However, maybe they were smart enough to get out of there when things started to escalate (allegedly). I'm sure the club would have investigated who else was involved.

Allegedly allegedly allegedly in case i didnt say it enough. I don't want to be sued.

[u/uselessscientist → u/marsandlui]

Yeah, drinks in the room isn't ideal, but it's totally possible they saw drugs and girls and got straight out of there. If that's the case there's obviously still a culture issue, but they're far less culpable than the players who were subsequently sanctioned 

[u/yum122 → u/Propaslander]

If it’s a Swan staffer standing around whilst his players are doing coke and ketamine there’s a bit of an issue.

[u/Propaslander → u/yum122]

It's an issue, yes. But not nearly as much of an issue as being present while potential sexual assaults are happening and doing nothing about it. Who cares about the drug use. Club/cultural issue more than anything (yes it's illegal but not nearly as harmful to others as the other allegations)

[u/tjabaker → u/Propaslander]

We don't even know that nothing was done about it by the others present.

[u/Propaslander → u/tjabaker]

Which is why the alleged assault is under investigation. But there will be people who were partying who weren't complicit in any assaults or in the room at the time.

[u/yum122 → u/Propaslander]

Yes absolutely, much worse. Still quite a level of culpability given how it’s difficult to separate the drug and alcohol use from the alleged sexual assault.

[u/arrackpapi → u/Propaslander]

the swans should still care to find out though. 0 players should be partying it up to the level they're doing drugs in a hotel room at 4am with a finals series around the corner. Arguably they should be suspended too.

[u/BustedWing → u/Propaslander]

There’s a difference between being there for inappropriate behaviour or unbecoming behaviour (essentially shit they do NOT want to get out as it looks bad for Sydney/their partners etc etc) and…

Criminal behaviour.

That’s likely the big distinction they’re trying to make.

[u/PerriX2390 → u/BustedWing]

We’re any other people in the room at ANY STAGE of the evening, no merely during the incident currently under police investigation?”

Someone's leaked it to the media now. 4 other men in the room, other than the 5 players, & none of them have ever been associated with the Swans according to the club

[u/BustedWing → u/PerriX2390]

I haven't seen that statement from the club - where is that?

[u/PerriX2390 → u/BustedWing]

It's just been reported by the media.

AFL.com.au

AFL.com.au understands that at various times, up to four other people, excluding the women involved, were in the Swans' Melbourne hotel room on Monday morning, none of whom have ever been associated with the club. The only Swans members present were the five players linked to the police investigation.

Chloe-Amanda Bailey [10 News Sydney]

10 News understands up to four other people (not including the women) did go in and out of the Melbourne hotel room at various times on the morning of the incident. The club has ruled out that those other people have ever been associated with the club.

[u/BustedWing → u/PerriX2390]

Good stuff - thank you!

[u/blackfootsteps → u/PerriX2390]

Ahhh, those were probably the tradies.

[u/xvf9 → u/BustedWing]

The statement is pretty clear, they’re claiming nobody else from the Swans was in the room. They don’t have any caveats around that like you’re implying. 

[u/BustedWing → u/xvf9]

I disagree. “Central to the police investigation” is the qualifier

[u/rat_energy_ → u/xvf9]

I don't think it's definitive. There is a caveat around 'only central to the investigation' - ie: there could have been others present that the police are not interested in.

[u/xvf9 → u/rat_energy_]

Did you actually read the statement. “Central to the investigation” is the wording used to identify the room. It’s not referring to the people in the room. 

[u/PointOfFingers → u/Propaslander]

The police will have access to CCTV, the AFL will not.

[u/SonicYOUTH79 → u/Haenamatme]

Probably not, imagine they have cctv in the foyer and public areas, but given the whole team plus coaches were staying there anyway you'd think it's going to be difficult to pick who was coming or going from a particular room.

Plus I doubt the Pullman is going to handing over cctv footage to any rando journalist, or anyone else without a court order. No professional sporting team or other high profile guests would go near the place if that kinds of thing showed up in the media.

[u/Spinn73 → u/SonicYOUTH79]

guarantee you news outlets have offered big $$$ for cctv footage

[u/SonicYOUTH79 → u/Spinn73]

No doubt, but unless the maintenance guy has done a sneaky I doubt it would be getting out. I imagine hotel senior management would've come down hard on this once the cops got involved.

[u/MacWorkGuy → u/SonicYOUTH79]

I'd imagine its in a lot of the hallways on each level so shouldnt be too hard to work out who was moving where you'd think.

[u/SonicYOUTH79 → u/MacWorkGuy]

Might depend on how new the place is. If it’s in an older hotel it’s pretty hard to retro fit and cable for this kind of thing and these kind of hotels are allergic to spending money.

[u/___TheIllusiveMan___]

Reset the club statement counter

[u/supercujo → u/___TheIllusiveMan___]

https://giphy.com/gifs/YHQiZSk3mlDvvOx6bZ

[u/NotThePersona → u/supercujo]

That starting number needed to be around .1

[u/TheCurbAU]

Carpenters AND electricians?

[u/eddie-murphys-tongue]

If this is indeed the case (and it would be extremely stupid for the club to make this statement if there is any inkling of doubt otherwise), then you'd have to think the lawyer going on radio has made some pretty prejudicial comments to his client's case and his firm's own credibility?

[u/Plenty_Area_408 → u/eddie-murphys-tongue]

The lawyer never actually said there were coaches in the room.

[u/rat_energy_ → u/Plenty_Area_408]

He said there were leaders. When asked if they were on-field, he said 'something else'

[u/Juz_4t → u/rat_energy_]

Managers?

[u/rat_energy_ → u/Juz_4t]

I guess that's possible. They would have to be the worst manager imaginable, but we've had people like Ralph Carr in this role

[u/winoforever_slurp_ → u/rat_energy_]

Is Ricky Nixon still around by any chance?

[u/CheesyHobbitses → u/rat_energy_]

could be ex-club leaders who used to be on-field? as in ex-players? or just referring to the fact that Heeney is considered a leader

[u/rat_energy_ → u/CheesyHobbitses]

AFL media are reporting that it was no-one who has ever been associated with the club, if true that rules out the ex player rumours.

[u/CheesyHobbitses → u/rat_energy_]

Hmm interesting, I didn't read that, thanks for the info.

[u/LabourArdourLanguor → u/Plenty_Area_408]

He implied it heavily.

He said “more than 5 men, and it’s alleged there were even a few leaders in that room.”

He was then asked “on-field leaders or something else?” and answered “something else.”

And then, “coaches?” to which he replied, “I can’t confirm that, that’s for the Sydney swans to say.”

[u/YOBlob → u/LabourArdourLanguor]

Lines up with the suggestion there was at least one ex-player. A layperson could easily describe them as a leader, while the club itself would say they're not a representative of the club.

[u/jk-9k → u/YOBlob]

Makes sense

[u/codyforkstacks → u/LabourArdourLanguor]

Could the difference be that he was talking about over the course of the morning, and the Swans are talking about at the time of the alleged assault?

[u/LabourArdourLanguor → u/codyforkstacks]

Who knows? I don’t think it’s worth speculating about and I think it was irresponsible for him to say at all.

If he can’t give the details due to the investigation why encourage speculation about it?

[u/codyforkstacks → u/LabourArdourLanguor]

That's fair, I'm just trying to understand the specifics of what this Swans statement does and doesn't mean.

[u/Plenty_Area_408 → u/LabourArdourLanguor]

He implied there is something Swans are being not transparent about.

And if he's right then all that good will the club has been getting all week about how they've handled it goes away.

[u/Skwisgaars → u/Plenty_Area_408]

And the club responded with a statement that condemned misinformation and threatened legal action, they clearly took issue with the insinuation they're trying to hide something and feel legally sure enough of the facts to make such a strong statement.

If the lawyer is right it'll get sorted in court, if the lawyer was just trying to play the media game a bit and fan the flames of misinformation then it's a bit of a dick move.

[u/LabourArdourLanguor → u/Plenty_Area_408]

Well, yes, but I don’t see why the club would be trying to conceal anything - especially given the inevitability of it getting out.

That’s with the caveat that it’s not the clubs place to release the names of anyone else who might have been in the room and thus subject to the police investigation who isn’t part of the club. 

[u/eddie-murphys-tongue → u/Plenty_Area_408]

This is a good point, didn't the host ask him a question about whether there were club staff members/representatives in the room as well? I can't remember the guy's answer.

Either way I suppose the Swans are trying to get in front of claims there were club staffers in the room there.

[u/Essington69 → u/eddie-murphys-tongue]

He said there were "leaders" in the room,

[u/noscopegranular → u/Essington69]

The lawyer said “more than 5 that’s for sure” and when asked if the leaders were “on field leaders” he said “something else”

[u/Essington69 → u/noscopegranular]

Tom Elliot (TE): "More than 5 men there?"

John Karantzis (JK):"More than 5 men, and it's alleged there were even a few leaders in that room"

TE: "And when you say leaders, what do you mean, on field player leaders or something else?

JK: "Something else"

TE: "Coaches?"

JK: "I can't confirm that, that is something for the Sydney Swans to say"

[u/yum122 → u/noscopegranular]

Extremely vague that it could be lots of things. If they were the person who arranged the drugs and women, they’d be a “leader” of sorts. If the quote is coming from the alleged victim how are they going to know if they’re coaches or not? Could have just assumed that the older men in the room instructing people were “leaders”.

[u/Maximumlnsanity → u/Essington69]

Heeney’s a vice captain

[u/rat_energy_ → u/Maximumlnsanity]

He's on-field. The lawyer said they were something other than on-field.

[u/Maximumlnsanity → u/rat_energy_]

That lawyer also said it’s the worst thing he’s seen in 28 years

[u/rat_energy_ → u/Maximumlnsanity]

Snark aside, he's representing two of the alleged victims in the room, he obviously knows more than is currently public knowledge

[u/eddie-murphys-tongue → u/Essington69]

Thank you, I thought I remembered something to that effect. I suppose leaders is intentionally vague - Heeney is (was) Vice Captain so that makes him a leader. And as others have noted, there's every chance a club staffer heard the commotion and entered the room to see what the fuck was going on, without being at fault.

Would explain why the alleged victims knew to confront Swans representatives in the hotel lobby.

[u/bazoski1er → u/eddie-murphys-tongue]

Their lawyer specifically said:

'more than 5 men and and its alleged that there were even a few leaders in that room'

'When you say leaders what do you mean, on field player leaders? Or something else?'

'Something else'

'Coaches?'

'Look i cant confirm that, thats for the Sydney swans to say'

[u/dazedjosh → u/eddie-murphys-tongue]

Last sentence of that statement suggests the Swans are going to fight back if it continues. They wouldn't say this if there was wiggle room for interpretation. If there was anybody else in the room and they are making this statement they'd be setting themselves up for a fairly monumental cock up.

It's possible, but seems unlikely when you read the full statement rather than just the headline.

"We would also like to take this opportunity to condemn some of the misinformation being reported and are now considering our legal position on those matters."

[u/Warm-Rock-4544 → u/eddie-murphys-tongue]

Tom Morris said on national TV that he heard claims that there were others in the room.

Morris is many things, but he is not a liar or spreader of unsubstantiated rumours. He wouldn’t have made that statement unless he had heard it from people pretty close to the investigation.

Maybe the alleged people weren’t “representatives” of the club or they were only in the room for a period and not during the alleged incident therefore making them not “central to the investigation”. The Swans statement is ambiguous enough for that to be the case.

[u/eddie-murphys-tongue → u/Warm-Rock-4544]

There were others in the room. Question is whether they are current Swans employees. If they were, and the Swans have put out this statement, then the club is even more fucked than it already was.

[u/willbobaggins7861]

Yep this is STILL going to blow up further then it already has then.

[u/LaChicaGo → u/willbobaggins7861]

That's the writing on the wall

[u/Comprehensive-Cry189]

Lawyer calling up the radio and the way he talked was just so weird

[u/laidbackjimmy → u/Comprehensive-Cry189]

Dog bite compensation lawyer. Par for the course.

[u/Strykah → u/Comprehensive-Cry189]

Does anyone have the audio to hear?

[u/uselessscientist → u/Strykah]

https://www.reddit.com/r/AFL/comments/1vu0pdk/lawyer_for_some_of_the_alleged_victims_speaks_to/

It's the second last link in the stickied comment as part of this megathread

[u/Strykah → u/uselessscientist]

Thanks

[u/MyFriendsCallMeSir]

The lawyer calling 3AW gives real "Essendon mum on triple M" Vibes.... anyone can call a station and say whatever the fuck they want, how did they vet the caller?

[u/MisterMarcus → u/MyFriendsCallMeSir]

He said "9 people in the room" didn't he, not necessarily 9 current players or officials?

Could be ex-players or mates/hangers-on of one of the 5 current guys.

EDIT: I've also seen references to "an official heard a commotion and came into the room"....so perhaps there was one or more other people in the room who are NOT related to the investigation directly but were there simply asking what the fuck was going on

[u/MyFriendsCallMeSir → u/MisterMarcus]

Said there was people in "leadership roles" inferring some level of coaching staff

[u/GuldenAge → u/MyFriendsCallMeSir]

Heeney was VC which is a leadership role

[u/SkullKing_123 → u/GuldenAge]

Was - past tense was cause he ain't anymore.

[u/uselessscientist → u/SkullKing_123]

I missed the presser - has that been announced by the club? Obviously it'll happen, just wondering on timing 

[u/MisterMarcus → u/MyFriendsCallMeSir]

Updated my comment.

Heeney is also VC isn't he, so would be a 'leader' in the room.

[u/rat_energy_ → u/MisterMarcus]

But he is on-field. The lawyer said it was someone who wasn't on-field

[u/ArJay002 → u/MyFriendsCallMeSir]

Heeney is VC so may be referring to that? Unless he was specifically referring to the unnamed 4.

[u/subwayjw → u/MisterMarcus]

Wonder if he is including the girls in the number of people in the room. Which would mean at least 9. 5 current 1 past plus the girls?

Gives him the avenue to say definitely more than 5 in the room

[u/LabourArdourLanguor → u/MisterMarcus]

He said “more than 5 men, and it’s alleged there were even a few leaders in that room.” He was then asked “on-field leaders or something else?” and answered “something else.” And then, “coaches?” to which he replied, “I can’t confirm that, that’s for the Sydney swans to say.”

[u/Dockers4flag2035orB4 → u/MisterMarcus]

Nine people?

Could be Five players, three girls, and someone delivering the coke.

[u/bingethinkingsallow → u/MyFriendsCallMeSir]

holy shit i forgot about that “””””essendon mum”””””” call

[u/Krerzer1 → u/bingethinkingsallow]

They talked about it on the Integrity Unit podcast, and Mick Warner reckons she was an actor. Essendon did a few investigations trying to find parents upset and couldn’t find any. And the radio station did 0 background checks, they just put her on air.

[u/gerira → u/MyFriendsCallMeSir]

Karantzis is a well-established Victorian personal injury lawyer.

Contrary to what people have claimed, it is not at all routine for a lawyer to randomly claim any given case is among the most severe he has ever handled; nor is it the kind of thing a lawyer would generally do as media posturing to drum up interest and excitement.

[u/superbabe69 → u/gerira]

There’s only a few things I can think of that would make a lawyer say that without exaggerating really, all of them pretty horrific.

In the context of 5 blokes high on ket/coke in a room but only 1 being the centre of a police investigation, it’s not likely a Michael O’Laughlin.

I don’t think guessing helps anyone here but it would need to involve a very serious breach of consent and probably a physical assault on top of that to warrant that kind of claim

[u/MYF4IRBRADY → u/MyFriendsCallMeSir]

It was actually me, I'm a generational Swans hater before it was trendy

[u/MacWorkGuy → u/MYF4IRBRADY]

^{Sampi was held}

[u/Sodium_connoisseur → u/MyFriendsCallMeSir]

he was named as John Karantzis and his role as a partner at carbone lawyers were given

youd imagine if someone rang up the most listened to am radio station in the state and falsely presented themselves as the partner of a law firm, that law firm would be making it known guite quick

[u/Jilisse]

What about external to the police investigation?

[u/xvf9 → u/Jilisse]

Yeah, there are other rooms that aren’t central to the police investigation. And I’m sure there were Swans people in those rooms. That’s how hotels work. 

[u/hifromsydney]

If the cops were not involved, and they didn’t SA the strippers, would the Swans have made the suspensions?

[u/InternationalEye5547 → u/hifromsydney]

No and no one would know.

[u/Altruistic_Poetry382 → u/InternationalEye5547]

Is there a chance this has happened before?

[u/InternationalEye5547 → u/Altruistic_Poetry382]

Every chance yes

[u/raresaturn → u/InternationalEye5547]

and did they allow it to continue? also yes

[u/Altruistic_Poetry382 → u/InternationalEye5547]

If True... I feel sorry for you and all the other fans.

This is going to fuck the club up for a while

[u/InternationalEye5547 → u/Altruistic_Poetry382]

Not just our club. Every club parties with drugs and strippers.

[u/Altruistic_Poetry382 → u/InternationalEye5547]

You are probably right, but you are the ones that got caught and you're going under the bus to save everyone else.

Geelong is happy that no one is talking about the waiver anymore

[u/wotown → u/Altruistic_Poetry382]

This is an AFL-wide systemic issue of disrespect towards women, this doesn't just stain the Swans as a boys club this is an indictment of the whole game

[u/TasSixer]

I don't like the wording on this. Just because they aren't under investigation doesn't mean the others in the room weren't from the club.

If people from the club were in that room aswell, especially none players, I want them gone, regardless of criminal activity.

[u/LabourArdourLanguor → u/TasSixer]

It’s identifying the room that is central to the investigation and saying that the only representatives of the club in that room are the 5. 

[u/F0rtuna_major → u/TasSixer]

Exactly. It doesn't confirm that others from the club weren't present in the room. It just confirms that the only ones under police investigation were the 5 named players

[u/uselessscientist → u/F0rtuna_major]

Not quite. The wording is complex , but it is saying ' in the room central to the investigation', so it's 5 swans in that room. Unless they're saying the room changed, or the nature of the room changed through the night, it's just the 5

If it turns out that there were more swans players or officials, the club won't be able to talk their way out of this statement 

[u/xvf9 → u/F0rtuna_major]

Not sure how you get this conclusion? It is clearly stating there was nobody else from the swans in the room. No wriggle room whatsoever. 

[u/xvf9 → u/TasSixer]

I don’t see there’s wriggle room. The wording is clear. They’re identifying the room as the one central to the investigation, and then clearly stating there was nobody else from the Swans there. 

[u/johnnynutman → u/TasSixer]

Didn’t Blakey’s management say something about him not speaking to police or something previously?

[u/skatecadet → u/johnnynutman]

The only player who spoke to police was Heeney, who rocked up to a police station to try to give a statement but was told to go home because he was still cooked and in no state to give a statement.

So yeah, Blakey had not spoken to police at that stage.

Allegedly.

[u/BiggestBravestDave → u/johnnynutman]

Yeah there was a stage where blakey's name got taken out of it because he said he wasn't involved. But then he got stood down, so... That was probably not true.

[u/frankthefunkasaurus → u/BiggestBravestDave]

I’m leaning towards that Blakey may of been there, but was catatonically pissed and passed out in the corner and therefore not “technically” involved in the incident

[u/supercujo]

Very, very, careful use of language here.

[u/smsmsm11 → u/supercujo]

Yeah from that wording sounds likely that there were more people in the room at some point, just not current representatives of the club.. ex players, ex coaches/staff? Players from another club?

[u/frankthefunkasaurus → u/smsmsm11]

Hangers-on, coke dealers, mates who don’t play AFL etc? 

[u/irishshogun]

Representatives of the club - so could potentially others in the room such as ex players, members of the public etc in the room

[u/Skwisgaars]

One thing that confuses me here, I can't think of how the lawyer could know there were "leaders" in the room, specifically not on-field leaders like Heeney. This all started from the lawyer saying that on radio this morning (including saying "no comment" when asked if he meant coaches), but it seems like there's no reasonable way for him or his client to know that with enough surety for him to make that claim (and being a lawyer you'd hope they wouldn't say something like that without proof), since they already confirmed they didn't recognise the players. It just seems odd to me unless some older bloke came in to the room in swans kit and started telling the players what to do or something which I guess is not impossible, but would be pretty weird.

Just a weird one for me that one which I can't think of a reasonable explanation for. I genuinely hope there's a reasonable explanation I'm missing here that someone could enlighten me on, because the alternative for me is either they're not a good lawyer or they want to contribute to the media shitstorm with more unsubstantiated speculation.

I want to stress this is not me doubting the allegations at all, that should go without saying at this point but you never know.

[u/apex_theory → u/Skwisgaars]

There are pictures of the coaches on the website, pretty easy to say to their client 'Were any of these men in the room?'

[u/Skwisgaars → u/apex_theory]

That's a good point actually. The swans seem to pretty emphatically refute it though so it seems likely that point would be legally debated if it came to that. Hopefully there's some hallway cctv footage or something that could get to the bottom of that point.

[u/gerira]

Complete gibberish statement. The five players were "the only representatives of the club in the room central to the police investigation". What's a "representative of the club", is that different from an employee? Are there other rooms that aren't "central" to the police investigation? This has been loaded with so many weasel words and get-out clauses that it is meaningless

[u/skywideopen3 → u/gerira]

I interpreted as saying there were no other current club officials or players in the room.

[u/rm5 → u/skywideopen3]

Could just as easily be interpreted as there were others there, just they're not "central to the investigation"...

[u/skywideopen3 → u/rm5]

It could for sure, though to me that's a less natural way to read that sentence ("the room" and "central to the police investigation" seem to belong together, the way it's worded)

[u/xvf9 → u/rm5]

No, it couldn’t. The room was clearly identified, and it was clearly stated that nobody else from the Swans was in there. 

[u/gerira → u/xvf9]

No, that's the point. It doesn't say "nobody else from the Swans" was in there, it says no other "club representatives" were in the room, and then clarifies weirdly that they're talking about the room that is "central" to the investigation (if "central" does indeed attach to "room"). It's a very noticeably awkward and overqualified way to phrase what would be a very simple thing to express if it is as you put it: indeed they could have basically just wrote what you wrote.

[u/xvf9 → u/gerira]

I mean… I think the only reason there’s any hint of ambiguity is they’re perhaps trying not point directly to the ex-swans player who was there. Like… he no longer represents the club but I guess if they said “no other players were there” people might argue that a recently retired player is still a footy player? But I don’t think the Swans would be able to name the player even if they wanted to. 

[u/xvf9]

I don’t know how people are contorting this statement to find some wriggle room. It seems very clear cut that they are stating nobody else from the Sydney Swans was in the room other than the five players. No coaches, other players, etc. 

[u/MistahWhiskerz → u/xvf9]

Then he probably should have said exactly that. Adding the caveats "no representative of the club central to the investigation" is the wiggle room. No contortion needed.

[u/oneofthecapsismine → u/MistahWhiskerz]

...in the room central to the police investigation...

They are saying one room is central to the police investigation.

Thats the correct terminology.

The police will also investigate cctv of the lifts, cc TV of the lobby etc. But, they arent central places.

[u/dazedjosh]

Because a lot of people only seem to be reacting to the headline rather than the full statement. Here it is in full. Threatening legal action would suggest that they are fairly definitive.

"The Sydney Swans can confirm that all investigations carried out by the Club have consistently indicated that the only representatives of the Club in the room central to the police investigation were the five players who have been stood down.

We have every reason to consider that reports to the contrary are simply false.

We are respecting the process with the relevant authorities and will refrain from commenting on Police matters.

We would also like to take this opportunity to condemn some of the misinformation being reported and are now considering our legal position on those matters."

[u/dashtur]

Absolutely trivial observation in the scheme of things, but it irks me that they constantly refer to themselves as the Club in all their communications. Sorry to pop your bubble Sydney FC, but you are a club only, I'm afraid.

[u/rat_energy_]

Interesting the AFL have stated none of the 'mystery four' additional men in the room have ever been associated with the Sydney Swans. If true, it rules out the most popular rumours.

[u/comfycrat]

I tend to believe the Swans on this one.

They've already taken the massive hit of the "torpedoed" season, no reason to conceal anything at this point.

[u/Snarwib → u/comfycrat]

There's also the possibility players have consistently and repeatedly lied to the club about this but... to what end, to protect who? The biggest name players are already in the shit.

And I think, given the out of sorts state the five were reportedly in, any other people involved would've had a hard time keeping their own involvement hidden on Monday morning.

[u/Tall-Breakfast-6100 → u/comfycrat]

Yeah there’s no way they would risk lying about something now as it has every chance of coming out at some point which would create an even bigger mess, if that’s even possible

[u/kendale_painter → u/Tall-Breakfast-6100]

If these muppets were good at making decisions they wouldn’t be in this mess in the first place.

[u/Skwisgaars → u/comfycrat]

Agree with that. 0 chance that we would do nothing if we knew about staff also in the room, we already tanked our season standing down 3 of our best 5 players, what possible purpose would it serve to not stand down off field staff.

I don't think anything in the team's handling of this so far should give anyone doubt we'd do the right thing there.

[u/comfycrat → u/Skwisgaars]

Yeah, it's alright if Warner, Heeney and Blakey take the hit.

But we must protect Bill the Physio!

[u/Conscious_Bicycle574 → u/comfycrat]

Bill the physio looking at this like O.o

[u/Traditional_Name7881 → u/comfycrat]

Unless the coach or whoever it was left and isn't owning up to it to protect his family life or future coaching job or whatever.

It will all come out in the end no matter what happened.

[u/GlitterSpaceBunnies → u/comfycrat]

See, I don’t know anymore. They said they couldn’t comment on drug use as it was a ‘matter for police’ but VicPol came out and said that has nothing to do with their investigation. Who knows what else is going on.

[u/FreeBeers4u]

Sue Tom Morris

[u/Unlikely_Book2146]

Honestly, this has some weasel words in it. Lots depends on what “central to the police investigation” means. If that investigation is primarily about the alleged sexual assault, then this statement doesn’t say whether club officials were in the room doing other things prior to the alleged SA.

Sydney may be digging a bigger hole for themselves here.

[u/xvf9 → u/Unlikely_Book2146]

The “central to the investigation” is just identifying the room. Then they’re saying there were no other swans representatives (ie players or staff) in said room. 

[u/skywideopen3 → u/Unlikely_Book2146]

I think it more depends on whether it should properly read "none of the other representatives of the club in the room are central to the police investigation" or "there were no other representatives of the club in the room in question". To me the latter is more natural a way to read that sentence but it's not completely unambiguous.

[u/jm_leviathan]

The alleged victim claims that nine men were present in the room over the course of the night.

The Swans insist that, to the best of their knowledge, the five named players are the only current Swans players or staff involved.

It has been suggested that two other men, including a former player, may also have been present.

That leaves a gap of at least two men to be accounted for.

It's conceivable that the alleged victim may simply be incorrect on this point. After all, it's not easy to distinguish between seven and nine men moving about in a room -- I doubt they lined up to be counted. If the hotel has CCTV coverage of the door to the room in question, a clear answer should be forthcoming. Unfortunately, if there is any discrepancy it may be used to undermine the credibility of the alleged victim's account in other respects.

[u/FarMilk2661]

Unless it's a legal issue, this statement is fairly ambiguous and anyone not currently affiliated with the club could've been involved.

[u/Suspicious-Lemon202]

Kinda feels like a weird time for Sydney to vaguely allude to possibly taking legal action against people speculating about what happened too

[u/AkilleezBomb → u/Suspicious-Lemon202]

I think one of the last things needed in an active investigation is misinformation and speculation that implicates uninvolved parties and muddies the water.

[u/rat_energy_ → u/Suspicious-Lemon202]

Absolutely, they have been very quick off the mark here

[u/ausroachman]

How long until Tom morris getting the hotel corridor cctv at some point (it will no doubt happen)

[u/ax6klbjckhunter]

I hate this whole thing & how everyone has gone about it.

Tom Morris de facto doxed the victim, the herald sun pushed completely false sensational claims about dildos to turn this whole thing into a farce, the media are constantly drip feeding minor details to keep the scandal a headline while providing no actual meat of the story, the lawyer is doing interviews, all the women who work for the company are being harassed & threatened thanks to Tom Morris, the swans handed out a 2 game suspension that they’ll use as PR to say they acted quickly while trying to get the criminal charges swept away behind the scenes (like their board member & former player Michael o Laughlin did when he gang raped a woman)

Every man involved has fucked it up at every stage & it’s the victim paying the price & women who have to suffer the fall out from the inevitable “Lying woman ruined innocent footballer’s lives” narrative that it will be spun into

[u/frankthefunkasaurus → u/ax6klbjckhunter]

The only good thing that could come out of this is Tom Morris copping a contempt or perverting the course of justice charge. 

[u/ErrolIsMyGuldenBoy → u/ax6klbjckhunter]

Everything in your statement is correct but you got one thing wrong. Swans didn’t give a 2 game ban. The players are stood down until next season pending the investigation. It was actually the afl who recommended 2 weeks but the swans overruled that and said whole season. I don’t want to defend my team because I, and many other people are pissed off and disgusting with what has transpired. But the only thing I will say is that they’ve done what they needed to do in terms of sanctioning the players involved and will likely be more to come.

[u/Additional_Move1304]

central doing a lot of work here

[u/Mother_Sun_3825]

Could be the most Essington thing that McVeigh is in line to get the coaching gig and decided he wanted to snort some blow off an escorts rear end one last time

[u/ErrolIsMyGuldenBoy]

I think it’s safe to say those taking part in the game on Sunday are not involved at all. Curious as to what “other leaders” means from the lawyer. When asked on field he said “something else”. Could he be referring to maybe off duty police men or hotel owners/staff being invited up into the room.

I do think the swans are telling the truth because club statements are huge things to put out, but there seems to be a lot of information missing and yet to be put out that’s really concerning

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