AFL recap: Sex crime squad completes Sydney interviews relating to Swans saga

That is all from us this evening. Thank you for joining us.

We will be back with live coverage on the unfolding situation at the Sydney Swans and the AFL/AFLW double header on Sunday.

Detectives from Victoria’s sexual crime and investigation unit say they have completed their interviews for now.

9News’ crime reporter Gillian Lantouris reports that interviews in Sydney have finished and no charges have been laid. It is expected the investigation will take some time before a conclusion is made.

Lawyers representing two of the women involved in the incident that allegedly unfolded in a Melbourne hotel room are preparing to launch legal action in the Victorian Supreme Court against the five players - Isaac Heeney, Chad Warner, Nick Blakey, James Jordon and Riley Bice - and the Swans.

If that civil case is to be filed by the lawyers of the two women, the case will run independently to the ongoing police investigation.

Lantouris also reported that lawyers will speak to the Swans before the documents are lodged to the Victorian Supreme Court to see if a settlement can be made behind closed doors.

Dean Cox has named his squad for Sunday’s match against North Melbourne. 

Nick Blakey, James Jordon, Isaac Heeney, Chad Warner and Riley Bice are all out after being stood down for the remainder of the season.

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

North Melbourne coach Alastair Clarkson hopes that all AFL players take on the advice of Daisy Pearce as the Swans saga rocks the AFL.

Pearce fronted the media earlier this week to express her disappointment in the conduct of Isaac Heeney, Chad Warner, Nick Blakey, James Jordan and Riley Bice She also backed the Swans for electing to stand the five players down for the remainder of the season.

In her hard-hitting speech, Pearce reiterated that all men, whether an elite athlete or not, should focus on being “a good human” and show respect for women.

Clarkson couldn’t agree more with that statement as the Kangaroos prepare to face the Swans at the SCG on Sunday afternoon.

“Daisy Pearce has just covered it beautifully: be a good human,” he told reporters on Friday.

“That’s whether it’s in the footy industry, whether it’s in your family, whether it’s in the workforce.

“She just covered it really, really well, and it taught me a lesson in a sense … (because) it’s the best way to approach this.

“The choices that you make should be linked really strongly to your core values.”

Clarkson said that it has not been an easy week for anyone in the AFL world.

He added that his team had discussed the matter with Kangaroos chief executive Jennifer Watt, who reiterated Pearce’s message about the situation.

“I have a heavy heart for everyone involved. It is difficult,” Clarkson said.

“The ripple effect for the whole industry and communities and societies - it’s tough. But that’s why I just keep referring back to Daisy.

“How is the best way to respond to any of this? It’s be the best human you possibly can be.”

Clarkson said that despite the difficult situation the Swans are navigating, North aren’t expecting an easy game.

“They are second on the ladder for a reason, part of that reason is the quality of their players but also the quality of their system,” he said.

“We are expecting the Sydney system at their best. We can’t control any of that, we just have to prepare our players for what is coming.”

9News Melbourne journalist Gillian Lantouris is reporting that John Karantzis, the lawyer representing two of the women in the alleged sexual assault case, has said his clients are planning to sue the five Sydney players; Isaac Heeney, Chad Warner, Nick Blakey, Riley Bice and James Jordon.

This is separate to the criminal investigation that remains ongoing.

The Age’s Christine Lacy is similarly reporting the news, saying proceedings will be launched in the Common Law Division of the Victorian Supreme Court.

Sydney will confirm their side to take on North Melbourne this Sunday at 5pm AEST tonight.

We already know Chad Warner, Isaac Heeney, Nick Blakey, Riley Bice and James Jordon will come out of the team due to their club imposed suspensions, crippling the team, but they will need to find at least five inclusions.

Any chance the team had to utilise this round 24 dead rubber against North Melbourne to rest a few key players is likely now out the window, given the depth they will already need to call upon.

The Swans added James Rowbottom, Angus Sheldrick, Tom Hanily, Harry Cunningham, Caiden Cleary, Patrick Snell, Corey Warner and Malcolm Rosas to their extended squad yesterday evening. They will add at least five those players to their 23-man side this afternoon. Corey Warner is the brother of Chad Warner.

They will now have to use this clash with the Kangaroos to work out how they adjust their side for finals. Sydney is locked into hosting a qualifying final at the SCG in the first week of September.

The Swans will likely face Brisbane in that game, but could play Hawthorn, Melbourne, Geelong or Adelaide depending on how round 24 lands.

Regardless of how deep they advance through finals, Sydney will be without those five players for the remainder of the season. The club imposed suspension rules them out for the rest of the year, with no current timeline on when they will be allowed to return to the club.

McEvoy is asked if she has thoughts on whether the five players at the centre of the allegations should be welcomed back into the club, but says they are yet to work through the situation and will cross that bridge when they get to it.

“We haven’t discussed that at the minute. We’ve been taking it day by day and the club will work through that with us when the time is right, before the time being there has been no discussion (on if the five players will return to the Swans),” McEvoy said.

Asked if she and the AFLW program would want to have a say in that decision, she added “absolutely, yes”.

Sydney AFLW captain Lucy McEvoy says men’s skipper Callum Mills spoke to the AFLW side on behalf of the men’s program and was “incredibly remorseful”.

McEvoy added that she is proud of how Mills has handled a difficult week.

Swans AFLW captain Lucy McEvoy says none of the five players at the centre of this saga have reached out to the AFLW players at this stage.

She says the actions of the players aren’t a representation of the wider standards of the club.

“We’re extremely disappointed. We’ve had some really open conversations as a group. We’ve felt the support internally and externally and the girls are working through their emotions,” McEvoy said.

“There’s no doubt the club has taken a reputation hit.”