NEW SWANS SCANDAL BOMBSHELL: ‘FOURTH BUTTOCK SLAP’ CLAIM SURFACES AS Raucous HOTEL NIGHT IS LAID BARE
The raucous partying of Sydney Swans stars before an alleged sexual assault scandal has been detailed, including a claim that trouble began when a player slapped a stripper’s buttocks four times instead of the agreed three.
Players Isaac Heeney, Nick Blakey, Chad Warner, Riley Bice and James Jordon have been stood down for the remainder of the 2026 AFL season.
The club found the players had breached its standards by staying out late, drinking and allegedly bringing women back to the Pullman East Melbourne hotel early Monday morning.
The suspensions are separate from a Victoria Police investigation into an alleged sexual assault at the hotel. No charges have been laid, and all players have denied wrongdoing.
On Saturday, The Daily Telegraph reported a timeline outlining the bars visited by Swans players before the hotel room scandal, as well as what allegedly occurred in the suite.
Due to Sydney Airport’s late-night curfew, the Swans’ team was grounded in Melbourne after their victory against Essendon.
The team and some staff began celebrating with local friends and family at the Pullman East Melbourne hotel bar, where no girlfriends or wives were present.
After a quick change, the players reportedly visited Fitzroy’s Marquis of Lorne at about 8.45pm, sitting in a private dining room for food and drinks. At one point, star midfielder Chad Warner allegedly appeared with a tray of shots.
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Players Isaac Heeney, Nick Blakey, Chad Warner, Riley Bice and James Jordon have been stood down for the remainder of the 2026 AFL season
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The club found the players had breached its standards by staying out late, drinking and allegedly bringing women back to the Pullman East Melbourne hotel early Monday morning
At the same time, coach Dean Cox, who is understood to have approved the night out, went to Richmond’s Harlow Bar with staff.
They were later seen on the pavement attempting to hail a taxi at Church Street about 12.30am and Cox was reportedly back in his room around 1am.
Meanwhile, at about 11pm, some players from the Fitzroy group visited European-inspired Her Bar on Lonsdale Street.
They returned to Pullman East Melbourne hotel from about 2.30am, according to the Telegraph.
A group reportedly gathered in a larger suite, where two exotic dancers were booked just after 4am, with reports suggesting three women were present in the room.
It was revealed overnight into Saturday that former Swans player Taylor Adams, who retired earlier this year, was present. The Daily Mail has contacted his agent Phoenix Management Group for comment. He is not accused of any wrongdoing.
There have been several different alleged accounts of events in the room, but one Telegraph source claimed trouble began when the men paid to slap the women’s buttocks.
The situation escalated, according to the source, when a dancer was allegedly slapped four times, not the agreed three strikes.
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Isaac Heeney, who was stood down for bringing exotic dancers back to the hotel, is pictured with his fiancée, Steffie Waters
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Swans coach Dean Cox is understood to have approved the night out and went to Richmond’s Harlow Bar with staff on the Sunday night
A different source alleged to the Newscorp publication there was ‘physical, unwanted touching in private areas’ and ‘fondling and borderline penetration’ of one woman’s genitals.
Allegations have also surfaced regarding comments made by the players during the dancers’ performance.
The Herald Sun reported a player declared he had ‘done an Albo’ during a lap dance, referring to Anthony Albanese’s controversial comments about ‘melons’.
Albanese sparked controversy after discussing a gift of two melons from Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi while making gestures near his chest in a podcast interview.
The Telegraph alleges there was an ‘off limits’ breach of the agreement with the dancers by one of the men. A woman was allegedly locked out of the room wearing little clothing.
Two women were seen in the hotel reception with staff and club officials, while a third woman was present to offer support.
Contacted by the Daily Mail for comment on the timeline, a spokesperson for Sydney Swans media repeated their insistence that ‘misinformation’ had been reported.
‘We are extremely disappointed with the misinformation being reported and are considering our legal options,’ they said.
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The Herald Sun reported that a player allegedly declared he had ‘done an Albo’ during the lapdance, seemingly referencing Anthony Albanese’s controversial comments about ‘melons’
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A spokesperson for Sydney Swans media repeated their insistence that ‘misinformation’ had been reported
Victoria Police published a statement on Saturday to the media, confirming their investigations into the alleged sexual assault are ongoing.
‘The exact circumstances of the matter are still being established and a number of people have been spoken to,’ it said.
‘As the investigation remains active and ongoing, we will not be commenting further including providing information on the specific circumstances of the matter, movements of detectives and any statements or interviews taken.’
The club also released a new statement on Saturday morning, saying it supports the action taken by police in releasing a statement regarding the investigation.
‘The Sydney Swans categorically confirms that no member of staff is involved in the investigation,’ the club said.
‘This includes being in the hotel room central to the police investigation.
‘The club reiterates that no player has been interviewed by police at this stage.’
Meanwhile, it was confirmed on Saturday the third of the three women allegedly hired as adult entertainers to party with the five Sydney Swans players had secured legal representation.
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The third of the three women allegedly hired as adult entertainers by the accused Swans players has secured legal representation from Slater and Gordon lawyer Jackson Pannam
Senior Slater and Gordon lawyer Jackson Pannam has been engaged to probe whether the woman ‘involved in the alleged sexual assaults’ has grounds to file a civil claim.
‘Our client has had her entire world turned upside down and is now trying to navigate an incredibly traumatic experience,’ Mr Pannam said in a statement on Saturday.
‘Everyone deserves to be safe going about their life, at home, at work and in public spaces without risk of being assaulted or harmed.’
The woman contacted police immediately after the alleged sexual assault and is continuing to cooperate with their investigation, the firm said.
A potential civil claim would be separate to any criminal proceedings.
On Friday, a separate firm said they were helping two other women preparing to launch legal action in the state Supreme Court against the five players and the club.
Carbone Lawyers partner John Karantzis said the two women he represented were suffering severe stress and anxiety and were in fear for their lives after being subjected to ‘abhorrent actions’.
He could not detail specifics but claimed the women had been subjected to ‘the most disgusting actions and behaviour I have ever heard about in my 28 years as a lawyer’.
Mr Karantzis claimed more than five men were in the room but refused to comment when asked if coaches were present.
‘More than five men and it’s alleged there were even a few leaders in that room,’ he said.
The Swans released a statement saying the five banned players were the only club representatives in the room.
‘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,’ it read.
‘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.’
The AFL’s integrity unit is also investigating.
1800 RESPECT (1800 737 732)
National Sexual Abuse and Redress Support Service 1800 211 028
SOURCE: https://www.dailymail.com/news/article-16071449/sydney-swans-scandal-alleged-assault-pullman-afl-melbourne.html
