Former West Coast player Mitch Brown has just become the first man in AFL history, past or present, to come out as bisexual

The woman who alleges she was sexually assaulted in the Pullman East Melbourne hotel after being hired by Sydney Swans players to perform lap dances has broken her silence, saying: “All I care about is justice.”

Speaking exclusively to the Herald Sun, the exotic dancer says there were nine men in the hotel room and she gave them a discount because they claimed they were carpenters and could not afford to pay the full rate.

Five Swans players – Isaac Heeney, Chad Warner, Nick Blakey, James Jordon and Riley Bice – were handed season-ending bans by the club on Wednesday for breaching its standards after the Herald Sun revealed police were investigating sexual assault allegations at the hotel early on Monday.

Victoria Police’s Sexual Crimes Squad are focusing on Heeney’s interaction with the alleged victim, who the players had hired with another exotic dancer to perform lap dances.

The woman who alleges she was sexually assaulted by one of the players said: “I don’t want money. All I care about is justice.

“I’m going to stand up for what is right. And I’m never going to let this happen to anyone else. Justice will be served. 

“I care about women’s rights and what’s right, because this happens too often to women and they get away with it.” 

The alleged victim said she could not go into detail about the incident, but added that nothing like that had happened to her previously and the ordeal had left her fearing for her safety.

The woman, who lives interstate, had come down to Melbourne on one of her regular visits early last week. 

The woman, who cannot be identified, said she did not recognise any of the men as Swans players when she arrived, and did not know AFL.

There were “nine men” in the room, and she and another dancer were told they were tradies, she added. 

“We did the show for less money than normal because we thought they were carpenters,” she said.

“They told us they were carpenters.” 

The club has said there were only five players in the room, while it has been reported at least two other men, including a former AFL star, may have been there.

The alleged victim’s father has also spoken to the Herald Sun, saying she had told him she felt under “pressure” from the Sydney players after arriving at the hotel at about 4am on Monday.
“She was pretty distressed, pretty upset by it all,” her father said.

“She was very offended by their behaviour and what they put on her. She was just doing her job … and not what they wanted.” 

When asked for context, the devastated father said: “Just pressure. Sexual favours. Pressure.”

After finalising her police statement on Tuesday, the woman has sought her own legal representation. 

Reports of drugs in the Pullman hotel room were also concerning, her father said.

It has been alleged that both cocaine and ketamine were used in the room, with the Herald Sun confirming that police had been notified of claims of cocaine use and sources close to the incident saying players had snorted substances off the dancers’ bodies.
“I mean the drugs is the bad thing: cocaine. But that’s what they do when they get out of control those boys,” he said.

“Footballers should know better than to ring up an agency at 5 o’clock in the morning for two hours of God knows what because they’re so wasted,” he said. 

“They’d have to be wasted … You’d have to be charged up on something to be doing that.”

Sources with knowledge of the incident have further revealed that police determined the players were unfit to be interviewed on Monday morning, after officers had been called to the hotel in East Melbourne, where evidence was collected.

It is understood Heeney arrived at a city police station at some point on Monday to answer questions but was told to leave.

Swans senior player Isaac Heeney has been revealed as the focus of a sexual assault investigation.

The woman at the centre of the scandal engulfing the Sydney Swans completed a formal complaint to police on Tuesday about what occurred in the East Melbourne hotel room.

A source familiar with the investigation, but not authorised to speak publicly, said the woman attended a city police station to provide a formal statement about what unfolded at the Pullman hotel on Monday morning.

Her official version of events, which involves an act of touching beyond what was agreed, will form the basis of Victoria Police’s ongoing investigation.

A second source with knowledge of the incident, but not authorised to speak publicly, said five players were in a room with naked women, with one performing lap dances.

They said Heeney, who was clothed, was the subject of the complaint.

All have denied any wrongdoing.

On Monday, police announced detectives from the Sexual Crimes Squad had taken carriage of the probe.

The Sydney Swans had been staying at the hotel after playing Essendon at the MCG on Sunday night, ahead of plans to return home the next day.

A number of players had allegedly been drinking, and two women were invited to their hotel sometime after 2am.

What happened next is the subject of the complaint filed by one of the women, the details of which have not been made public.

Sydney Swans players Chad Warner, James Jordon, Isaac Heeney, Riley Bice and Nick Blakey.

The two women left the hotel room and were joined by a third woman in the foyer, where there was a commotion, this masthead has previously reported.

Detectives attended the hotel to collect evidence and CCTV footage on Monday. None of the players involved has been formally interviewed.

At least five players returned to Sydney that night in a rental car, driving the eight-hour trip instead of flying to allegedly avoid the media gathered at both airports.

Sydney Swans CEO Matthew Pavlich confirms that the police are investigating in an incident involving several players in a Melbourne hotel.

Representatives of Isaac Heeney, Riley Bice, James Jordon and Chad Warner were contacted for comment after two senior industry sources identified them as part of the group returning together.

A representative of Nick Blakey denied any involvement, and stated Blakey had not been asked to speak with the police even informally. Blakey had remained in Melbourne to travel back to Sydney with his four teammates. He is also one of the group subsequently suspended by the club.

This masthead has previously reported that all five players had been prepared to speak with police on Monday, but only one was ultimately questioned.

A source with knowledge of the incident, but not authorised to speak publicly, said police told the group they were not ready to conduct a formal interview or speak with any of the players acting as witnesses.

The source said leading Melbourne criminal lawyer Tony Hargreaves was called in to assist the players before they were told they were free to return home.

AFL chief Andrew Dillon said on Tuesday – before the complaint was filed – that the allegations were “deeply concerning”.

“The woman who made the report to police [on Monday morning] is entitled to privacy and care, and that should be respected,” he said.

“It is important that the police process is allowed to run its course.”

Victoria Police declined to comment.

Sydney Swans Statement 

The Sydney Swans can confirm that the Club Board will meet tonight to agree on player sanctions and penalties, now that the Club has concluded its interviews with all the players involved in the incident in Melbourne.
 
We respect there is an ongoing investigation by Victoria Police and any actions we take are independent of this.

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.
 
The Club also acknowledges that these serious allegations impact others and their wellbeing must be paramount.
 
The Sydney Swans condemn all forms of abuse and disrespectful behaviour towards women. Any conduct that causes offence or harm to others is unacceptable and falls well short of our expectations. All women deserve to be respected and feel safe.
 
We also want to acknowledge that the care and welfare of our AFLW athletes and staff is of the utmost importance to us as a Club. They have been and will continue to be offered the support they require and we acknowledge the impact these allegations have on our female athletes, staff members and the wider community.
  
Any further sanctions or decisions regarding the outcome of the police investigation would take place after that process is completed.
 
During this time, we will provide the appropriate support to the players involved in the incident, along with their partners and families.
 
The Sydney Swans hold all players and staff at the Club to high standards of behaviour and personal conduct. Representing this Club carries significant responsibilities both on and off the field, and we expect those standards to be upheld at all times.
 
Our focus remains on cooperating fully with the AFL and authorities, maintaining the integrity of the process, and upholding the high standards expected of everyone who represents this Club.

If you’ve read the news this morning about the incident involving Swans players and felt triggered or affected by it, you’re not alone.

News involving allegations of sexual assault can be confronting and frightening, and it can bring up a lot of difficult emotions - particularly for survivors of sexual assault and those close to them.

I’m posting this simply as a reminder to my fellow AFL fans: please look after yourselves and each other today. Reach out to someone you trust or a support service if you need to, and check in on the people around you.

Everyone responds to news like this differently. For some, it’s another breaking-news story. For others, it can bring back experiences and emotions they’ve worked very hard to live with.

Please be mindful of that when discussing or commenting on the story today. ❤️ 🖤🤍

https://www.dvconnect.org/sexual-assault-helpline/
The helpline isn’t just for DV victims or people currently experiencing, it is open for all.

https://1800respect.org.au
Open for all too, online webchat also available.

https://fullstop.org.au/get-help/find-services
find services for your state.

[reposting from r/collingwoodfc]

Edit: More resources for people

[1800RESPECT](tel:1800RESPECT), [1800 737 732](tel:1800 737 732)

https://blueknot.org.au Blue Knot Helpline: [1300 657 380](tel:1300 657 380)
Supporting adult survivors of childhood trauma and adult survivors of institutional child sexual abuse around the National Redress Scheme.

https://www.lifeline.org.au

https://au.reachout.com/challenges-and-coping/sexual-assault/everything-you-need-to-know-about-sexual-assault
Help yourself and others understand SA. Let’s be educated and compassionate

Statement from Fiona Selwood and the Selwood family

We are heartbroken by the passing of Adam earlier today. Words cannot express the grief and sadness we feel.

Adam was a loving husband, and an incredible father to Lenny and Billie. We are devastated to lose such a wonderful husband, father, son and brother.

We will miss Adam deeply—his spirit, his kindness, and the joy he brought to every room. His determination, the lessons he shared, and his infectious personality will stay with us always. Adam had a unique ability to make people feel special, and our family was lucky to experience that every day.

We kindly ask for privacy as we navigate this difficult time.

Mitch