‘They have been pushed over the edge’: Alleged Sydney Swans sexual assault victims suffering trauma disorders

Two of the women at the centre of the Sydney Swans sexual assault allegations have been medically assessed and found to be suffering severe trauma-related disorders following events at the Pullman East Melbourne in August.

A source connected to two of the women, but not authorised to speak publicly, told this masthead the women were struggling to deal with what had occurred at the East Melbourne hotel room in the pre-dawn hours of August 17.

“They have been pushed over the edge by the incident and its aftermath,” the source said.

The source said details of the women’s fragile mental health had been documented in numerous official medical reports, one of which they said extended to more than 40 pages of clinical detail.

The psychological assessments were prepared for inclusion in the women’s potential civil action against the Swans players, for which the women have obtained legal representation, the source added.

They said the women had been medically assessed, including extensive psychological evaluations, over recent weeks following the incident and that the pair had been found to be variously struggling with post-traumatic stress disorder and adjustment disorder. The source said the women were now undergoing treatment.

“These women are suffering severe stress and trauma,” the source said. “They are not in good shape.”

The women are two of three exotic dancers who attended a hotel room in which five Sydney Swans players were present – Isaac Heeney, Chad Warner, Nick Blakey, James Jordon and Riley Bice – to perform in one of the player’s hotel rooms after a night of wild partying. The team, coaches and club officials were staying at the Pullman following the Swans’ round-23 win over Essendon on August 16, with the cost of the Swans’ accommodation paid by the AFL.

In separate statements to Victoria Police, each of the three women has variously alleged they were sexually assaulted and touched inappropriately without consent, with the police investigation still under way. One of the women has made at least two statements to authorities outlining what unfolded in the suite and later in the hotel lobby.

Bice and two other men who were also in the Pullman hotel room – recently retired former teammate Taylor Adams and a mystery man – are now considered by police to be witnesses to the pre-dawn events. The four other players remain persons of interest in the investigation, which has now been running for six weeks.

The players have maintained their innocence and denied any criminal wrongdoing. On September 2, police said they were not expecting to have any further update on the matter for eight weeks, which would take the investigation to the first week of November. The five Swans players have made no public comment about the events of August 17, and not all of the five players agreed to be interviewed by police.

Following the incident, the five players were suspended by the Swans for the rest of the season for drinking, staying out late and inviting women back to the team hotel – a breach of the club’s behaviour standards.

PTSD is a mental health condition that can develop after experiencing or witnessing a terrifying, threatening or traumatic event. Symptoms may include flashbacks, nightmares, intrusive thoughts and severe anxiety.

Adjustment disorder is an emotional or behavioral reaction to a stressful life event that is stronger than normal and makes it difficult to handle daily tasks. It can manifest as anxiety, depression, disturbed emotions and conduct, or combinations of these symptoms.

News of the women’s mental health issues comes as the club, whose premiership hopes were dashed by Fremantle in the preliminary final, prepares to hand out its best and fairest award – the Bob Skilton Medal – at a gala ceremony at the Sydney Town Hall on Thursday night.

Heeney, who is team vice captain, is a favourite to win the award, having also taken out the medal in 2024 and 2025. Warner and Blakey are also expected to poll well in the prestigious honour, with the runner-up to receive the Adam Goodes Trophy and third place-getter the Peter Bedford Trophy, both named after former club greats.

Last week, the five players returned to club headquarters at Moore Park for the first time since the August incident. They had their 2026 season exit interviews and addressed teammates and colleagues to apologise for the impact of their actions.

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