Sydney Swans players referred to police over alleged sexual assault in Melbourne
Incident occurred at a hotel on Wellington Parade following the team’s victory at the Melbourne Cricket Ground, with the AFL confirming it has been made aware of the ongoing matter.
Several Australian Football League players from the Sydney Swans have been referred to Victoria Police following an alleged sexual assault at a hotel in East Melbourne. The incident took place in the early hours of Sunday morning at a property on Wellington Parade, occurring in the hours after the team secured a victory at the Melbourne Cricket Ground.
Sydney Swans Chief Executive Matthew Pavlich confirmed the club is aware of the matter and expressed shock and disappointment at the situation. Speaking at a press conference on Monday, Pavlich stated the organisation was "still piecing together exactly what's transpired" and declined to be drawn on the specific nature of the allegations or the number of players involved.
"There's going to be lots of speculation, but given it's a police matter right now, that is all we can say," Pavlich told reporters. He further declined to confirm whether any arrests had been made, emphasising that the club would not provide additional details while the matter remains under active police investigation.
A Victoria Police spokesperson confirmed that detectives are investigating a report of a sexual assault at the specified hotel. The police statement noted that the exact circumstances of the incident are yet to be established and that the investigation remains ongoing.
The Australian Football League has been made aware of the matter by the Sydney Swans. In a statement, the league confirmed that the club had notified them of the incident, which is currently being handled by Victoria Police.
