"Deeply concerning": AFL breaks silence on Swans allegations

AFL CEO Andrew Dillon has released a statement regarding the ongoing allegations involving four players from the Sydney Swans.

The statement is as follows:

"The conduct and serious allegations regarding Sydney Swans players are deeply concerning," Dillon said.

"While the matter remains under police investigation, it raises broader issues for our game and our responsibilities as a sport.

"The woman who made the report to police is entitled to privacy and care, and that should be respected.

"It is important that the police process is allowed to run its course.

"Sexual assault allegations are serious, regardless of who is involved, what time of year it is, or what they may mean for a season.

"Our first question should not be what this means for a football club. It should be whether our actions match the standards we stand for and the community expects of us.

"As a sport, and as an industry, we are clear about the standards we expect and the values we stand for and the need to uphold them.

"Being clear about our standards also means being prepared to act when those standards are not met.

"Notwithstanding the ongoing police investigation, the AFL and the Sydney Swans will consider the broader conduct of the players as more information comes to light."

The AFL has said it is “premature” for the Swans to consider handing down punishment to any player linked to the alleged sexual assault scandal.

On Monday, Victoria Police confirmed it was investigating allegations of a sexual assault incident involving players on Sunday night at a Melbourne hotel.

At the time, Victoria Police said in a statement: “Police are investigating a report of a sexual assault in East Melb on 17/8.

“The incident occurred at a hotel on Wellington Pde in the early hours of the morning.

“The exact circumstances are yet to be established and the investigation into the incident remains ongoing.”

The Swans have since released few details or information given the nature of the allegations but CEO Matthew Pavlich has said: "we are shocked and disappointed by what has happened but this is an ongoing police matter. I will not comment any further on it now."

SEN’s Tom Morris provided an update on the ongoing situation on Tuesday evening.

“It’s an evolving story,” Morris told SEN Locked In.

“The Age has reported that the Sydney Swans players in question are set to be handed a punishment under the conduct unbecoming framework that the AFL has.

“The AFL has called this ‘premature’, when I’ve spoken to them tonight. But that’s what reporting is, it’s detailing what will happen in the future.

“Conduct unbecoming – Lance Collard (2026), Izak Rankine (2025), Tarryn Thomas in 2024, Jack Ginnivan in 2023. There are quite a few players under conduct unbecoming.

“It’s a really delicate one, and everyone has strong views either way, but what I will say is that there is a football element to this, and there is a non-football element to this, and we are really cognisant to both, with football clearly being secondary to the alleged victim or victims and what they’ve been through.”

Reports have established that one player is allegedly being subject to a thorough investigation surrounding the alleged incident.

While Tom Morris did concede this fact, the player is yet to be named.

“We’ve chosen not to name this player,” Morris said.

“Being questioned is different to being arrested and charged. I’m not going to report on that player until the scrutiny turns into a charge and/or an arrest.”

More to come.