Sydney Swans players reportedly told exotic dancers they were carpenters before the alleged incident that has plunged the AFL club into crisis.
The bizarre claim emerged as Victoria Police officials travelled to Sydney on Thursday to conduct further interviews over a reported sexual assault at the Pullman hotel in East Melbourne.
Fox Footy reporter Tom Morris revealed the latest development.
‘Victorian Police officials are in Sydney today conducting interviews as their investigation continues,’ Morris wrote.
‘When asked what they did for work, the players told the alleged victims they were ‘carpenters’.’
The Swans were meanwhile seen linking arms in a powerful huddle during a sombre training session at the SCG.
Sydney players linked arms during a sombre SCG training session as the club attempted to regroup before the AFL finals
Swans head coach Dean Cox (left) and captain Callum Mills lead the players out to training
Captain Callum Mills and coach Dean Cox addressed the group as the remaining players attempted to prepare for Sunday’s clash with North Melbourne.
Isaac Heeney, Chad Warner, Nick Blakey, James Jordon and Riley Bice were absent from the main group after being ruled out of selection for the remainder of the 2026 season.
Sydney imposed the penalties after determining the five players had breached the club’s behavioural standards.
The club’s decision was separate from the police investigation and did not represent a finding about the alleged sexual assault.
No charges have been laid and Victoria Police have not publicly identified anyone as a suspect.
Several Swans players have spoken voluntarily with detectives.
The investigation centres on events after Sydney defeated Essendon at the MCG on Sunday.
Members of the playing group reportedly went for drinks before returning to the Pullman East Melbourne at different times during the early hours of Monday.
Heeney’s fiancée Steffie Waters disabled comments on her Instagram account as the scandal continued to engulf the club
Australian Olympic sprinter Ella Connolly, who is dating Nick Blakey, has not publicly commented on the unfolding controversy
Women were reported to have arrived at the hotel shortly after 4am.
Distressed women later approached hotel staff and Swans officials in the foyer before police attended the building.
The precise circumstances surrounding the reported assault remain under investigation.
