Swans players set to be hit with lawsuit as lawyer speaks out
The lawyer representing the two women in the alleged sexual assault case engulfing the Sydney Swans has said his clients are planning to sue the five banned players: Isaac Heeney, Chad Warner, Nick Blakey, Riley Bice and James Jordon.
9News Melbourne’s Gillian Lantouris has reported John Karantzis of Carbone Lawyers intends to launch proceedings on behalf of his clients in the Victorian Supreme Court against the five players for damages for pain and suffering, separate to the ongoing criminal investigation.
James Jordon, Chad Warner, Isaac Heeney, Riley Bice, and Nick Blakey. Nine
The women’s lawyer will reportedly speak to the Swans before documents are lodged to the Victorian Supreme Court to see if a settlement can be made.
9News further reported that detectives from Victoria’s sexual crimes squad have completed their Sydney interviews but are still in the process of interviewing the five players. No charges have been laid and the investigation has not concluded.
Karantzis spoke to 9News and alleged it was his understanding that club officials were present in the room.
The Swans have denied that allegation.
“The Sydney Swans can confirm that all investigations carried out by the club have consistently indicated that the only representatives of the club in the room central to the police investigation were the five players who have been stood down,” the club said in a statement.
“We have every reason to consider that reports to the contrary are simply false. We are respecting the process with the relevant authorities and will refrain from commenting on police matters.
“We would also like to take this opportunity to condemn some of the misinformation being reported and are now considering our legal position on those matters.”
The latest updates come after representatives from Sydney’s AFLW and AFL teams addressed media ahead of Sunday’s double-header.
AFLW captain Lucy McEvoy was asked if she and the AFLW program would want a say in whether the five players should be welcomed back to the club.
“Absolutely, yes,” was her reply.
That came after Swans captain Callum Mills denied there is a “rift” in the locker room despite condemning five teammates for their actions that have all but ended the club’s AFL premiership chances.
And head coach Dean Cox admits the club has a lot of work to do to repair the image and culture that was seemingly obliterated inside a Melbourne hotel room in the early hours of Monday morning.
Victoria Police are investigating allegations of sexual assault after three women made statements earlier this week. Detectives travelled to Sydney and are focusing their investigation on star player Isaac Heeney. No charges have been laid.
Dean Cox and Callum Mills speak to media. Sitthixay Ditthavong
The club on Monday stood down Heeney, Warner, Blakey, Jordon, and Bice for the remainder of the season for breaching club standards, separately from the sexual assault investigation.
Fresh allegations aired on Thursday night suggesting as many as nine men were inside the hotel room where adult entertainers were paid to perform, and illicit drugs were allegedly found. One of the adult entertainers alleges she was touched inappropriately.
There is speculation as to the identities of the other men inside the hotel room, and Cox and Mills on Friday refused to comment on those details given the ongoing police probe.
“I wasn’t in the room,” Cox told reporters.
“We’re still trying to find out information as well.”
Mills addressed the club’s AFLW team earlier this week and says he apologised to them for the actions of his five teammates.
He denied reports the Swans locker room is divided despite the five players breaking club standards.
“I can say there’s not a rift within the group,” Mills said.
“Football is secondary at the moment, but we will stick together.
“The five players have let us down. There’s a range of emotions, but there is pain, there’s sadness, there is disappointment.
“I think what this has caused is us to put the mirror up, to all men in society and all men within the club. We need to do better.”
The blowtorch has turned on Cox in recent days after revelations he took staff and players out for dinner and drinks following their win over Essendon, which cemented second spot on the AFL ladder.
The Swans face North Melbourne on Sunday before having a week off, and then hosting a qualifying final in Sydney.
Cox said the intention was never to go out drinking all night.
“We spoke post-game about what’s required to make the right decisions. These obviously aren’t the right decisions,” he said of the five players who have been stood down.
Swans coach Dean Cox addresses media. Nine
“It’s been a really hard week for everyone involved in the football club. We’re not shying away from that.
“We’ve got a lot of work to do, for our football community and for the community in general. I haven’t looked at football this week.
“I hope our fans stand by us.”
The Swans are set for an historic event on Sunday when the AFLW team plays on the SCG before the AFL side does.
Some fans are now planning to boycott the men’s team and walk out of the stadium once the women’s game ends.
The Swans have named their men’s side for Sunday’s match.
Swans squad
Callum Mills, Tom McCartin, Dane Rampe, Sam Wick, Harry Kyle, Joel Hamling, Matt Roberts, Errol Gulden, Jai Serong, Jake Lloyd, Logan McDonald, Braeden Campbell, Tom Papley, Charlie Curnow, Billy Cootee, Brodie Grundy, James Rowbottom, Angus Sheldrick
Interchange: Tom Hanily, Harry Cunningham, William Green, Caiden Cleary, Jesse Dattoli
Emergencies: Patrick Snell, Corey Warner, Malcolm Rosas
