Coach disappointed as Swans face player stand-down call
Anna Harrington |
Sydney coach Dean Cox says he’s “extremely disappointed” that several Swans players are being investigated over an alleged sexual assault, as the AFL and the club consider whether to stand them down.
In his first comments since the news broke, Cox briefly spoke to media outside of the Swans’ headquarters on Tuesday morning.
Victoria Police attended the Pullman Hotel in East Melbourne on Monday and said they were investigating a report of sexual assault in the early hours of the morning.
Sydney stayed there on Sunday night after the club’s 36-point win over Essendon at the MCG.
Chad Warner, Isaac Heeney, James Jordon and Riley Bice have been widely named in media reports as the players involved in the inquiry, although none have publicly been accused of wrongdoing.
The allegations have rocked the second-placed Swans ahead of the looming AFL finals.
“Obviously extremely disappointed with what’s happened, and understand the questions and we’ll update as we gather more information,” Cox said.
When asked if sanctions should be expected, Cox added: “We’re working our way through everything with the AFL and the relevant parties and we’ll update when we get more information.”
Asked if he had spoken to the players, Cox said: “We’ll speak as the day unfolds.”
Players, including captain Callum Mills, were stopped by media as they entered Sydney’s training facility across Tuesday morning.
“It’s an investigation ongoing and we don’t have the facts yet, so can’t really comment,” Mills said.
“We don’t know the facts. It’s as simple as that.”
Mills wouldn’t comment when asked if he’d spoken to the players involved.
As of Tuesday morning, no players had been charged in regards to the investigation, which is ongoing.
“Police spoke to a number of people at the hotel, however no one has been arrested or formally interviewed at this time,” Victoria Police said in a statement on Tuesday.
On Monday, chief executive Matthew Pavlich said the club was working with the AFL and relevant authorities.
“We’re still piecing together exactly what’s transpired here and have our own set of internal inquiries ongoing,” Pavlich said.
“But, safe to say that we’re extremely shocked and disappointed that this has taken place and that the players have found themselves in this situation.”
No senior figures at the AFL have publicly commented on the matter, though its integrity unit appears certain to become involved.
Unlike the NRL, the AFL does not have a strict no-fault stand-down policy on players charged with serious offences such as sexual assault.
But the AFL stood down Geelong’s Tanner Bruhn, who ultimately had sexual assault charges dropped, for the entire 2025 season while his case was in court.
Bruhn, who always maintained his innocence, returned to play this year.
AFLPA chief executive James Gallagher stressed the NRL no-fault stand-down policy kicked in when people were charged.
“What we’ve got here at the moment is allegations,” Gallagher told Triple M.
“And so I think part of it is understanding what’s happened, and understanding that as best as possible and that can sometimes take time.”
If Sydney do choose to stand down players for their last regular-season game, against North Melbourne at the SCG on Sunday, it will likely become clear before team selection later this week.
The Swans are required to name their extended squad on Thursday evening, then cut that back to 23 players plus three emergencies on Friday.
Sydney then have a week off during the wildcard round before a home qualifying final.
AAP has contacted the AFL for comment.
1800 RESPECT (1800 737 732)
National Sexual Abuse and Redress Support Service 1800 211 028
AAP