Tim Watson’s inner sanctum insight into Swans’ return

The five Sydney Swans players at the centre of the incident at the Pullman Hotel were back at the club on Wednesday.

Isaac Heeney, Chad Warner, Nick Blakey, James Jordon and Riley Bice returned to Swans HQ for the first time since they were banned for the remainder of the season following the incident in Melbourne.

There remains an ongoing police investigation pertaining to four of the five Swans after allegations of sexual assault. Bice has since been cleared.

SEN’s Tim Watson gained some information about what was said as the quintet addressed the entire club on Wednesday.

SEN Breakfast co-host Garry Lyon asked the questions and Watson answered the best he could with what he has been told.

So the five have returned and addressed the whole of the football club?

“Yes. All staff including the members of the men's and women's team. So everybody was assembled.”

Did they address them as a group or did they speak individually?

“They spoke individually. Each of them took their turn to speak and they spoke about their position and what they needed to express individually, which is what they wanted to do.”

Were there apologies?

“Yes, they were deeply remorseful. They showed genuine deep regret as to what had happened, how it had transpired and the effect that it had had on the football club.

“That wasn't lost on them at all, how broad reaching this was and we're not just talking about the players involved here, we're talking about all aspects of the football club and the fans, but not just the fans, but also the wider football community.

“They have a great comprehension of that according to this person and the way they spoke.”

Was it an awkward situation? Was there tension? What was the atmosphere like when they walked back into the football club for the first time?

“Well, as it was explained to me, it was the first in-person re-engagement with the club that they have had. The word ‘awkward’ wasn't used, but it wasn't easy for anybody. That's how it was described to me.

“It certainly wasn't easy for the five players, they didn't waltz in there with big smiles on their face, that type of thing. It’s been described as a good first step, so there's still work to be done here.”

The question that everyone wants to know the answer to is whether these five players will be at the first day of pre-season training. Was that a topic that was addressed at this first coming together of the five and the football club?

“Well, I'll answer in this way, that the leaders of the club I'm talking about, so their leadership group, the captains and those that were there, we know that we saw a vision of ‘Millsy’ (Callum Mills) turning up on crutches after his knee surgery.

“They made it very clear that they wanted the players back on the field. They wanted that group of players back on the field. And that everyone needs to move forward together.

“That's what they're saying now. We all need to move forward together. That was the expression that was used and they need to repair the damage. But obviously that will take time.”

So that's from the playing cohort that remains. So you're saying that - they're not going to welcome them back with open arms - but they want them at the football club. There wasn't any suggestion that they've said, no, we can't continue on without them?

“No.”

It has been reported that Nick Blakey might be exploring his options. Was there any suggestion that any one or any of the five don't want to come back?

“No, not in the information that was provided to me.

“The information that's been provided to me that they'll be welcomed back, but I have no information about what the players said specifically about themselves and whether or not they would come back to the football club.

“But as a group, they are committed to making amends and regaining the trust and the support. They know that that's all been lost, but they also talked about how they are struggling personally. And that was clear from everybody who was there that they are struggling personally and they talked about the effect that this has had on their family and then other relationships around that as well.

“So maybe their friends and partners and that type of thing. So I don't think that's going to be a surprise to anybody that this has been a tough time for everybody concerned.”

There’s clearly a police investigation ongoing. Was that any part of the conversation?

“Yes. This was one point that they did want to make and that was that they deny any illegal actions.”

Strenuously?

“Yep. Well, you say strenuously. That word wasn't used but it was just that they deny that there are any illegal actions and I guess we'll get to find out whether or not that's going to be... it's been tested now, that evidence obviously has been tested now, so we'll find out to that end exactly what the police come back with.”