One of the strippers at the centre of the Sydney Swans scandal has had a dramatic late-night showdown at a Melbourne nightclub after claiming she was barred from celebrating her birthday because of Hawthorn players.
The woman was one of three topless waitresses hired to entertain a group of AFL players at the Pullman East Melbourne hotel after the Swans’ victory over Essendon on August 16, with all three later making police complaints alleging they had been sexually assaulted.
No charges were laid and the women have engaged civil lawyers. The players, who broke cover on Wednesday when they returned to the club’s Moore Park HQ for routine end-of-season exit meetings, have all denied any wrongdoing, and it is not suggested they are personally under investigation.
Now, the Daily Mail can reveal that a bizarre incident unfolded at Electric Bar on Chapel Street on Sunday evening after the woman, who cannot be named for legal reasons, was refused entry to the popular venue where she had planned to celebrate with friends.
Witnesses claim the situation, which at least one person filmed on their phone, quickly escalated, with the woman becoming upset over the decision and convinced she had been singled out because of her allegations against the Swans.
Onlookers say she identified herself as the complainant before demanding to speak to a manager, threatening to contact the media and accusing the doormen of breaking the law.
One of the strippers at the centre of the Sydney Swans scandal has had a dramatic late-night showdown at a Melbourne nightclub after claiming she was barred from celebrating her birthday because of Hawthorn players. (Stock image posed by model)
A bizarre incident unfolded at Electric Bar on Chapel Street on Sunday evening after the woman, who cannot be named for legal reasons, was refused entry to the popular venue where she had planned to celebrate a birthday with friends. (The interior of Electric Bar is pictured)
James Jordan (left) and Nick Blakey (right) flanked Isaac Heeney (centre) as the trio returned for routine player exit meetings at Sydney Swans HQ in Moore Park on Wednesday afternoon
‘She was standing at the door and refusing to leave,’ one patron told the Mail.
‘She said she would call 60 Minutes if they didn’t let her in. She said it was illegal to refuse her entry because she was part of the investigation involving the Swans.’
‘One of the bouncers looked a bit confused by it all and said that he didn’t know who she was.
‘That’s when she told him she was part of the investigation into the Swans and said the other guy didn’t let her in because the Hawks players were there.
‘There were loads of people waiting in the line to get in and people could hear it all.’
The Mail understands the standoff eventually ended and, after the commotion subsided, the woman was allowed inside with her friends.
Electric Bar is a popular venue on Melbourne’s Chapel Street and is known to be frequented by local sporting stars, including Hawthorn players.
The Mail has independently verified that several AFL footballers were at the venue on Sunday evening, although it is not known who they were or which clubs they represented.
Isaac Heeney, Chad Warner, Riley Bice, Nick Blakey and James Jordon were stood down last month after the club found the players had breached its standards by staying out late, drinking and bringing women back to the hotel. (Heeney is pictured with his fiancée Steffie Waters)
The Mail has independently verified that several AFL footballers were at the venue on Sunday; however, Electric Bar said there is ‘nothing to indicate’ anyone inside stopped the woman from entering. (Hawks players, not related to the Chapel St incident, are seen running onto the field)
There is no suggestion Hawthorn players instructed the venue to deny her entry, or were even aware she was there, let alone who she was. The club declined to comment.
A spokesperson for Electric said they had reviewed the relevant reports from the night and there was nothing to indicate the woman was initially denied entry because of other patrons.
‘Based on the information provided, venue security consulted with management in accordance with standard procedure, which is a common occurrence throughout trade for a broad range of reasons including but not limited to signs of inebriation or aggression,’ they said.
‘All guests are assessed by venue security in the same way upon entry. This resulted in a brief delay while the circumstances were reviewed.
‘Following that review, there was no identified reason to refuse entry and the individual was permitted to enter the venue.
‘Electric is regularly attended by people from across Melbourne’s media, entertainment and sporting communities, and their presence at the venue is not uncommon.
‘There is nothing to indicate that the individual’s reference to another person already being inside the venue influenced either the review process or the decision to permit entry.’
The Victoria Police investigation into the woman’s allegations of sexual assault is ongoing. No charges have been laid and the trio have hired personal injury lawyers, with two engaging Carbone Lawyers and the third retaining Slater and Gordon.
Isaac Heeney, Chad Warner, Riley Bice, Nick Blakey and James Jordon were stood down last month after the club found the players had breached its standards by staying out late, drinking and bringing women back to the hotel.
The players all returned to Moore Park on Wednesday for routine end-of-season exit meetings, running the gauntlet of the press for the first time since the scandal broke.
