Victoria Police are investigating a report of a sexual assault in East Melbourne allegedly involving Sydney Swans footballers.
The Sydney Swans confirmed several footballers were involved in an alleged incident in Melbourne, prompting a Victoria Police sexual assault investigation.
AI-generated summary
The Sydney Swans were staying in Melbourne overnight following their match against Essendon at the MCG.
The Sydney Swans have confirmed several of their footballers were involved in an "alleged incident" in Melbourne last night.
The Swans issued a statement just after midday today.
"The Swans have notified the AFL and relevant authorities and cannot provide further comment at this stage," the club said.
Victoria Police separately issued a statement saying detectives were investigating a report of a sexual assault in East Melbourne.
"The incident occurred at a hotel on Wellington Parade in the early hours of the morning," a spokesperson said.
"The exact circumstances are yet to be established, and the investigation into the incident remains ongoing."
Sydney Swans chief executive Matthew Pavlich called a press conference this afternoon that lasted less than one minute.
"We're still piecing together exactly what's transpired here and have our own set of internal inquiries ongoing," he said.
"Safe to say, we're extremely shocked and disappointed that this has taken place and that the players have found themselves in this situation.
"We understand the level of interest in the matter, and there's going to be lots of speculation, but given it's a police matter right now, that's all that we can say."
The AFL released a brief statement.
"The club made the AFL aware of the matter which is currently under Victoria Police investigation," the statement read.
NSW Police Minister Yasmin Catley said she was unaware of the details of the allegations, but she was confident Victorian authorities would take them "very seriously."
"We have to be mindful of the fact that the alleged offences occurred in a different jurisdiction. So, they [Victoria Police] will be leading that investigation," she said.
Asked if she would be seeking a briefing from police herself given it was a high-profile case allegedly involving Sydney-based AFL players, she said: "The police will definitely lead on that" and "brief me accordingly".
"The investigation is underway, I think we should let the police do their work in Victoria, and the NSW police will let me know if I need to know anything."
The Swans were staying in Melbourne overnight after their 36-point win over Essendon at the MCG yesterday.
Sydney is sitting in second spot on the AFL ladder heading into the final round of the 2026 season, with the finals due to start within weeks.
The team has had 17 wins this season and is due to play its next game at home at the SCG against North Melbourne.
Mitchell Starc took five wickets in 22 balls to dismantle Bangladesh for 64, while Shoriful Islam impressed for the tourists on his Test return. Australia faced a challenging evening session as the match progressed at Harrup Park in Mackay.
Adelaide Crows defeated GWS Giants 157-101 in Taylor Walker's final home game, while Geelong Cats beat Richmond Tigers 133-76. Both winners secured top-six spots. In AFLW, North Melbourne extended their unbeaten streak by defeating Brisbane Lions.
The Warriors moved to the top of the NRL ladder after a 45-26 win over South Sydney, fueled by rookie Luke Hanson's late field goal. Meanwhile, Canterbury boosted their finals chances with a 44-14 win over St George Illawarra, and Newcastle's top-eight hopes faltered.
Mackay's Great Barrier Reef Arena hosts its first international Test cricket match, marking a milestone for the venue that was once a cow paddock and later saved by members who mortgaged their homes to fund its expansion.
Five Sydney Swans players have been suspended for the remainder of the AFL season for breaching club standards following a police investigation into an incident at an East Melbourne hotel. The club prepares for a match against North Melbourne amid the fallout.
Slovenian cyclist Tadej Pogačar enters the Vuelta a España following a dominant Tour de France victory. His record-breaking climbing performances have reignited debates regarding doping, despite experts noting advancements in training, nutrition, and technology.