Andrew Dillon: AFL chief executive says respect for women ‘is not negotiable’ in wake of Sydney Swans saga

Andrew Dillon has spoken publicly about AFL club Sydney’s sexual assault allegations for the first time, saying respect for women is not negotiable.

The AFL chief executive started his speech at Monday’s launch of the finals series in Melbourne with a strongly-worded statement.

It expanded on an email the AFL sent out last Tuesday night as the extent of the crisis had become clear.

“I have been asked a lot in recent days, what message football should be sending young people and what we should be saying to our kids,” Dillon said.

“For me, the answer is straightforward - it doesn’t matter who you are, it doesn’t matter what you do, whether you’re an AFL footballer - the way we treat women says a lot about who we are as people, as a community and as a game.

Dillon added everyone involved in the game had an extraordinary platform and a responsibility to set the right example.

The Swans have suspended Isaac Heeney, Chad Warner, Nick Blakey, James Jordon and Riley Bice for the rest of the season for breaching club standards.

A police investigation into sexual assault allegations, related to what allegedly took place in a room at East Melbourne’s Pullman Hotel in the early hours of Monday morning last week, is ongoing.

“The actions of five players have fallen well short of the standards our game expects and community deserves,” Dillon said of the club-imposed bans.

“While there are players involved, we cannot lose sight of the bigger picture. More importantly, there are women who have made a report to police and they should be shown care and respect.

“There are also families, staff, supporters, teammates and members of the wider community who have been affected.

“This includes women who play, work and lead across our AFL and AFLW competitions and throughout our game.”

Dillon again reiterated that the conversation should not be about what the bans mean for Sydney’s finals chances. The Swans finished the season second, beating North Melbourne at the SCG on Sunday in an emotion-charged match.

“Our focus is not on the impact of last week on a club’s finals prospects. It’s on whether our actions reflect the values and expectations of our community,” Dillon said.