Swans AFLW side ‘deeply disappointed’ by alleged conduct of male peers

Sydney Swans chief executive Matthew Pavlich has conceded his club’s women's team is “deeply disappointed” in the five male players at the centre of an alleged sexual assault scandal.

None of the players, staff or coaches attached to the Swans AFLW side have spoken publicly about the incident, but Pavlich said the club was “supporting them as best (they) can” as a media firestorm continues to swirl around the shocking allegations.

“(The AFLW side are) deeply disappointed, like we are. Their welfare is of the utmost importance to us, and we’re supporting them as best we can,” Pavlich said.

“We’ve met with them a number of times. We’re continuing to work closely with them because they’ve got a big game to prepare for on Sunday.

“They had a wonderful victory in Adelaide last weekend. Being there and seeing the enthusiasm as that season begins, we are supporting them best as we can.”

Pavlich said the club “treat and respect women incredibly well” and that treatment is “of the utmost importance to our football club”.

“We have a huge female supporter base, we’ve got a huge academy that has boys and girls playing in it, and all women deserve to be treated respectfully and feel safe,” he said.

The allegations centre around an alleged incident at the Pullman Hotel in East Melbourne in the early hours of Monday morning after the Swans defeated Essendon in a Sunday afternoon clash.

The club has chosen to stand down Riley Bice, Nick Blakey, Isaac Heeney, James Jordan and Chad Warner for the rest of the season for breaching club standards by drinking late into the night and bringing women back to the hotel.

NewsWire is not suggesting any of the players were involved in sexual assault, only that an allegation has been made.

In recent history, AFLW teams have been quick to condemn their male counterparts’ poor behaviour.

In October 2024, shortly after players from the GWS Giants mens’ team made headlines for wearing offensive costumes making light of issues like sexual assault at a post-season celebration, the women's’ side publicly declared their anger.

GWS AFLW captain Rebecca Beeson said she and her teammates were “deeply hurt and angered” after learning of the behaviour, which included one player performing “simulated inappropriate acts” on a sex doll while dressed as former NRL player Jarryd Hayne.

“It is important that we make it known that we were deeply hurt and angered when learning of the behaviour that occurred,” she said at the time.