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Sydney Swans chief executive Matthew Pavlich told a press conference on Monday that an unspecified number of players had been involved in an incident in the hours after the team’s win at the Melbourne Cricket Ground, with the club referring the matter to police. Pavlich said the club was still piecing together exactly what had transpired and would not comment on the specific allegations while the investigation continued. “Safe to say, we’re extremely shocked and disappointed that this has taken place, and that the players have found themselves in this situation,” Pavlich said at the press conference. “There are going to be lots of speculation, but given it’s a police matter right now, that is all we can say.” The executive declined to say whether any arrests had been made.
Victoria Police confirmed separately that detectives were investigating a report of sexual assault at a hotel on Wellington Parade in East Melbourne, with the incident occurring in the early hours of Sunday morning. A police spokesperson said the exact circumstances were yet to be established and that the investigation into the incident remained ongoing. The force has not named any individuals or provided further details on the number of people involved at this stage.
The AFL said in a statement that the Sydney Swans had made the league aware of the matter, which is currently under Victoria Police investigation. The league has not issued any immediate sanctions or stood players down pending the outcome of the police probe, according to the details released so far. Pavlich emphasised that the club would cooperate fully with authorities.
According to ABC News reporting on previous AFL off-field matters, the league has faced recurring scrutiny over its handling of sexual misconduct allegations, including a 2024 case that left women associated with the sport feeling hurt and disappointed by perceived lack of understanding around such issues. Victoria Police have investigated multiple past claims involving AFL players, such as the 2015 case involving two Hawthorn players questioned over an alleged sexual assault of a 19-year-old woman in Melbourne, as reported by SBS News at the time. The Sydney Swans themselves were the subject of multimillion-dollar legal action in 2025 over historical sexual abuse allegations against a former academy coach, ABC News and 7News reported, though that case involved junior development programs rather than current senior players.
AFL clubs have previously taken steps such as standing down players during active police investigations into sexual offences, a pattern seen across several high-profile cases detailed in Guardian Australia coverage over the past decade. In one instance, Collingwood players were questioned over an alleged sexual assault following the 2010 grand final, according to contemporary reports. The league maintains an integrity unit that reviews such incidents, though specific protocols for the current matter have not been publicly outlined by the AFL beyond its acknowledgment of the police investigation.
The incident follows the Swans’ competitive performance in the current AFL season, though club officials have refrained from linking the events to on-field matters. Pavlich noted that the club would continue to support the players involved while the investigation proceeds. Further updates are expected as Victoria Police advance their inquiries into the hotel incident.
