Sydney Swans legend Lance Franklin has weighed in on the drama engulfing current players at his former club, describing it as an ‘absolute disaster’ while putting the women involved ahead of football.
Five Swans players, Isaac Heeney, Chad Warner, Nick Blakey, James Jordon and Riley Bice, have been suspended for the remainder of the season following a party at Melbourne’s Pullman Hotel.
Victoria Police’s Sexual Crimes Squad is investigating a report of sexual assault allegedly connected to events at the hotel in the early hours of August 17.
No charges have been laid and none of the five suspended players has been formally interviewed by police. Their suspensions are for breaching club standards by staying out late and drinking, they are not connected to the police investigation.
Franklin addressed the situation alongside Shane Crawford on The Buddy and Shane Show podcast.
‘Obviously there’s an alleged victim as part of this, so our thoughts are with her and the girls involved in this,’ Franklin said.
Lance Franklin has called the Sydney Swans crisis a sad time while stressing football remains secondary to allegations
Chairman Andrew Pridham has promised a review into Sydney’s culture after the scandal engulfed the second-placed club team
Franklin said his thoughts were with the alleged victim and other women involved in the ongoing police investigation
‘What a sad, sad time for the footy club. An absolute disaster for them at this stage.
‘All I can say is their performance on the weekend. I know that’s separate. Footy is secondary to what took place.
‘The way they galvanised and played on the weekend shows you the club is very united, but our thoughts are with the alleged victim here too, Crawf.’
Sydney responded to the turmoil by beating North Melbourne by 53 points at the SCG on Sunday despite being forced to replace five members of its regular side.
Captain Callum Mills and teammate Errol Gulden were visibly emotional after the final siren.
‘I’m so grateful for our fans for sticking with us,’ Mills said after the victory.
‘We stayed united as a club this week and I’m really proud of that.’
Crawford opened the discussion by calling it a ‘horrendous week’ for Sydney and saying there were numerous false rumours circulating about the incident.
Franklin (pictured with wife Jesinta) will return to football for the All Stars in Thursday night’s Legends Game at Melbourne’s Marvel Stadium
Shane Crawford described Sydney’s week as horrendous and said the five players had been rightly suspended for season
‘There’s unfortunately so many rumours that are so untrue,’ he said.
‘Players have been suspended for the rest of the season, and rightly so.
‘They went out, they had a night out and now it’s a police investigation, so you can’t really give much of a comment around all of it.’
The Swans imposed the season-ending sanctions for breaches of club standards involving drinking late, continuing the night and bringing women back to the team hotel.
The club has repeatedly stressed those penalties were separate from the police investigation.
It has been alleged that adult entertainers were hired to attend a hotel room after Sydney’s victory over Essendon at the MCG.
There have also been reported allegations of illicit drug use inside the room. The players have denied criminal wrongdoing and drug use.
Swans coach Dean Cox, football boss Leon Cameron, head of player wellbeing and development Brett Kirk and communications chief Tom Chadwick have reportedly provided statements to police.
The retired champion will reunite with Cyril Rioli in an All Stars lineup captained by Shane Crawford
There is no suggestion any of those officials was involved in the alleged incident.
The five suspended players issued a joint apology after accepting the club’s punishment.
‘We are deeply sorry to everyone involved,’ their statement read.
‘We know that our behaviour has fallen well short of the standards expected of us and the values of our club.’
Swans chairman Andrew Pridham has promised a wide-ranging review into the club’s culture, while the AFL will wait until the police investigation is completed before conducting its own inquiries.
Daily Mail does not suggest any of the named Swans players are under police investigation or involved in any wrongdoing alleged by the women.
Crawford said the controversy represented a serious blow to Sydney’s renowned Bloods culture.
‘I love the Sydney Swans. They’ve always had an incredible culture,’ he said.
‘A lot of clubs are jealous of what they’ve been able to have, and this is a huge step backwards.
‘But in a way it can really propel the club forward, especially if you can get on top of whatever issues are in front of them.’
Franklin said the younger players introduced against North Melbourne gave Sydney fresh energy ahead of the finals.
‘They looked hungry,’ he said.
‘I thought North Melbourne were a chance to beat them, but Sydney looked hungry.
‘They’re energised by a few young players coming in. You get yourself in a position to have that second chance, so anything is possible. But they are coming up against Brisbane.’
Franklin played 172 games and kicked 486 goals during his decade with Sydney after joining the club on a nine-year contract in 2013.
The 1,066-goal champion will return to the field for the All Stars in Thursday night’s Four’N Twenty Legends Game at Marvel Stadium.
He will reunite with former Hawthorn teammate Cyril Rioli in a match also featuring Dustin Martin and Gary Ablett Jr Crawford will captain the All Stars, with Kane Cornes coaching the side.
