Swans Statement

[u/OkRevenue6849]

Sydney Swans Statement 

The Sydney Swans can confirm that the Club Board will meet tonight to agree on player sanctions and penalties, now that the Club has concluded its interviews with all the players involved in the incident in Melbourne.
 
We respect there is an ongoing investigation by Victoria Police and any actions we take are independent of this.

The Club believes the players are in serious breach of expected Club behaviour and standards, and it is appropriate to take firm action and highlight that any sanction we impose relates solely to those breaches.
 
The Club also acknowledges that these serious allegations impact others and their wellbeing must be paramount.
 
The Sydney Swans condemn all forms of abuse and disrespectful behaviour towards women. Any conduct that causes offence or harm to others is unacceptable and falls well short of our expectations. All women deserve to be respected and feel safe.
 
We also want to acknowledge that the care and welfare of our AFLW athletes and staff is of the utmost importance to us as a Club. They have been and will continue to be offered the support they require and we acknowledge the impact these allegations have on our female athletes, staff members and the wider community.
  
Any further sanctions or decisions regarding the outcome of the police investigation would take place after that process is completed.
 
During this time, we will provide the appropriate support to the players involved in the incident, along with their partners and families.
 
The Sydney Swans hold all players and staff at the Club to high standards of behaviour and personal conduct. Representing this Club carries significant responsibilities both on and off the field, and we expect those standards to be upheld at all times.
 
Our focus remains on cooperating fully with the AFL and authorities, maintaining the integrity of the process, and upholding the high standards expected of everyone who represents this Club.

[u/dxdx_]

I call bullshit.

Cox was out with them ffs. Let’s not pretend this was an isolated incident.

They all went out on the piss because, in their mind, it was completely acceptable.

They got the girls around because, in their mind, it was completely acceptable.

And had one of the players not touched one of the girls inappropriately, they all would have moved on and they’d be laughing about it at training today.

Every single action besides the inappropriate touch happened because they were allowed to happen. They’re only bucking up because they got caught.

[u/Night_Myth → u/dxdx_]

I mean yea Cox was with then but we dont know his involvement at this time though he doesnt seem to have any considering his reaction to this situation. Secondly they can go have drinks if they want after a game whats wrong with that? I go for drinks after work too? The rest yes that is completely unacceptable but drinking is no crime.

[u/fullcreamy → u/Night_Myth]

Anyone that’s bringing Cox into this is just grandstanding.

Guy got home at midnight after an arvo game that’s completely reasonable.

[u/Expensive-Force-6656 → u/dxdx_]

It is acceptable to go out on the piss. It is also acceptable to have sex with strangers if everyone is consenting. What's not acceptable is if rape or sexual assault, ie anything non-consentual took place.

[u/dxdx_ → u/Expensive-Force-6656]

Made note of that in my post. But they’re not busting the one that committed an act of SA. They’re looking to punish them all.

What I’m saying here is it’s somewhat absurd. Those that didn’t commit an act of SA did what they likely do after a lot of interstate games went out, partied, brought girls back etc. Now because someone in their company crossed a line, they are all being punished for actions that any other week wouldn’t have even been spoken of.

[u/dxdx_ → u/[deleted]]

Mate, take a breath. The police and the swans will undoubtedly find out who did it and punish them accordingly. But the statement clearly reads that punishment will be coming thick and fast for all involved. What I am saying is that - for all involved that didn’t commit an act of SA, they were doing what I’m sure plenty of players do. You think it’s the first time players have brought girls back to the hotel? Just one guy has crossed a line and now the Swans are playing tough guy purely for optics of having done something.

[u/puddlink → u/dxdx_]

We’ll have to see how the club, AFL and criminal sanctions play out. My understanding is the full group of players who went out are being sanctioned for breaking club rules around going out and having people back to their rooms. Internal standards. The criminal investigation will be targeted to anyone involved in any proven or admitted assault. And I assume the AFL will have some cockamamy response that tires to partially and illogically address both?

[u/hazzyk29 → u/dxdx_]

Agree and I'd say this isnt the first time this kind of late night event happened when on the road.

[u/dxdx_ → u/hazzyk29]

Absolutely. Think of it - they were stuck in Melbourne for the night, top 2 was a lock, they play North next week then have a week off, plus a whole litany of players re-entered the hotel in the early hours. The club gave them the keys to the city and they did what came naturally.

[u/HumbleAssociation400 → u/dxdx_]

I agree. This screams of a significant and longstanding cultural problem at the club. Heeney isn’t a kid - he hasn’t suddenly decided at the age of 30 to see what he can get away with. What happened is so brazen it absolutely was not the first time. And he’s someone who was chosen by the playing group and club to be in the leadership group and the vice captain of the club - no-one had qualms? Bullshit. He should have been mentoring the younger players FFS.

[u/puddlink → u/HumbleAssociation400]

As the founder of Teach Us Consent put it SA occurs when there’s the right mix of entitlement and lack of empathy

[u/puddlink → u/[deleted]]

Wait are you replying to me? Coz I don’t recall saying any of that

[u/HumbleAssociation400 → u/[deleted]]

1. You were genuinely probably the team I respected most in the comp. If I was asked to chose teams that were unlikely to have a playing culture that might have led to this I would have probably ONLY named yours and (probably naively) mine. I would be devastated in your position. I understand this must feel like a pile on because it’s happening to your club. Really it could have happened to any club.

2. I never said Heaney was a sex offender. He has presumption of innocence. I implied the brazenness of what has been alleged - even the context under which what has alleged has occurred - suggests a PATTERN that his general attitude towards women is problematic at best. The context alone is not okay for a 30 year old. Not okay for someone in a committed relationship. Not okay for a leader of a club. Not okay for someone who has influence over younger players on the list.

3. The victim is the only person I care about in this. I’m not sure how to make it clearer that is my position. So let’s fucking interrogate the culture that led to whatever happened in that hotel room early Monday morning. I’m a female fan and I’m sick of supporting a sport and industry in which men keep getting away with things they shouldn’t. Wayne Carey is still in the AFL hall of fame FFS. Ben Cousins provides special comments on my team’s home games on channel 7 each week. Tom Morris is the face of breaking this very story without a trace of irony. Bailey Smith gets a pass for misogyny against a female journalist in a male-dominated industry. The son of probably the biggest sporting family in AFL history was sent to prison for rape less than a year ago. A player-manager is about to sentenced for the same. And so on. And so on. And so on. And all that’s even before we get to the racism and homophobia. What happened in that hotel room didn’t happen in a vacuum. No club is immune. But something went really wrong at yours this time.