Sources close to one of the strippers at the centre of the Sydney Swans hotel controversy say the decision to make a police complaint alleging sexual assault has come at a devastating personal cost.
They claim the woman, who cannot be named for legal reasons, is now battling crippling paranoia and financial hardship, and has twice been admitted to hospital.
The shocking new details come as Isaac Heeney, one of the so-called ‘Pullman Five’ named by the club in relation to the scandal, was crowned ‘Best and Fairest’ at the team’s end-of-season awards on Thursday.
Heeney and teammates Chad Warner, Nick Blakey, James Jordon and Riley Bice were at a wild party at the Pullman East Melbourne hotel on August 17 where three adult entertainers later claimed to police they had been sexually assaulted.
Police launched an investigation into the allegations and the five players were stood down for the remainder of the AFL season after breaching the club’s code of conduct by drinking and bringing women back to their hotel.
No charges have been laid and the Daily Mail does not suggest the players are personally under investigation. Furthermore, Bice was cleared by police in early September and is now being treated solely as a witness.
Under-fire Sydney Swans player Isaac Heeney fronted the press pack as he arrived at the club’s headquarters on September 23 for his routine end-of-season debrief. He was controversially crowned ‘Best and Fairest’ at the team’s end-of-season awards on Thursday
Sources close to one of the strippers linked to the hotel scandal say the decision to make a police complaint alleging sexual assault came at a devastating personal cost. (Stock image)
This week, the Mail revealed Heeney had been dumped by fiancée Steffie Waters (pictured on August 21), with a source close to the former WAG saying she had called off their engagement
Despite the club sanction, the five players remained eligible for the club’s awards, with the Swans changing the traditional ‘Best and Fairest’ title for the Bob Skilton Medal to ‘Most Valuable Player’.
The announcement of Heeney’s victory was another blow for the three women in the highly publicised case, the Daily Mail understands, and followed reports of ‘a growing belief in AFL and legal circles that sexual assault charges may be difficult to prosecute following a review of statements’.
While the women cannot be identified, friends say they are distressed by the slow pace of the police investigation and believe a smear campaign has been waged against them.
‘One told me it’s been the worst month of her life,’ said an insider.
‘They are all paranoid. They don’t know who they can trust or what’s happening with the investigation.
‘Then this award [for Heeney]… of course they are upset, seeing him publicly celebrated is frustrating.’
Despite the law preventing them from being named by the press, the friend said many personal details have leaked online and all three are now living their lives ‘as though they are in witness protection’.
‘They are worried someone may recognise them and they can’t take private bookings for topless waitressing or stripping jobs because of that,’ added the friend.
Heeney and teammates Chad Warner, Nick Blakey, James Jordon and Riley Bice were at a wild party at the Pullman hotel in Melbourne on August 17. Three women later claimed to police they were sexually assaulted. (Pictured: A generic photo of a room at the Pullman East Melbourne)
Police launched an investigation and the five players were stood down for the rest of the season after breaching the club’s code of conduct by drinking and bringing women back to their hotel. (Pictured: A generic photo of a corridor at the Pullman East Melbourne hotel)
‘That’s had a knock-on effect because that is how they earn money and I know one of the girls is almost broke.’
The friend also said the women don’t know who they can trust after reports emerged that police had seized secret audio files recorded without their knowledge.
The recordings are believed to have been made without the women’s knowledge or consent and allegedly capture the strippers’ account of what transpired in the hotel room, as well as discussions about what steps the women planned to take afterwards.
‘They are under a lot of stress and one of the girls in particular is really struggling and has been admitted to hospital twice,’ they said.
‘The first time was just days after the booking. She had suffered a medical episode during her [lap dance] performance and fled the room to get some air.
‘She actually ended up being rushed to hospital for that.’
The friend also told the Daily Mail the same girl was again admitted to hospital on another occasion due to stress.
The exact nature of the women’s untested sexual assault allegations has never been confirmed by police. However, the Mail understands that one of the women claims she was slapped four times on the buttocks but was only paid for three.
The players have always maintained their innocence and the Mail does not suggest they engaged in any wrongdoing.
The Sydney Swans’ best and fairest awards was held on Thursday night at Town Hall. (Pictured is Corey Warner, the younger brother of Chad Warner)
Forward Malcolm Rosas and girlfriend Amelia Khoo, a lawyer who does work for the Swans
Swans coach Dean Cox (left) and assistant Leon Cameron arrived early and appeared tense
Swans captain Callum Mills accepted the award for Heeney on Thursday night
While the suspended players did not attend Thursday’s event, the club publicly backed their legal position, with Swans chairman Andrew Pridham saying they should be afforded the ‘presumption of innocence’ despite being stood down.
‘This decision reflected only on their breach of club standards and behaviour,’ he said.
‘At no time have we made any judgement on the allegations currently before police, as this is a separate matter.
‘And as we know, the players strenuously deny the allegations.’
As Heeney’s name was read out, many in attendance stood, clapped and cheered.
In an emotional video message played after he was named the Bob Skilton Medal winner for 2026, Heeney said he is ‘truly sorry’ for his role in the scandal that engulfed Sydney last month.
‘When I was told about this honour, it was the first time I smiled and felt positive about the future in a long time,’ he said.
‘I want to say to everyone – in particular my teammates, the Swans players, the AFLW, and the staff – from the depths of my heart, I’m truly sorry for putting you through the extreme difficulty you’ve had to endure, as it’s had a huge impact on our club.
‘Every single day I was away from the club was heartbreaking, knowing that I couldn’t make a contribution. Every single day, I think about what could have been.
‘I’m incredibly excited about what this group can do. I can’t wait to get back to training with the boys, get better, and tackle next year together.’
This week, the Mail revealed Heeney had been dumped by fiancée Steffie Waters, with a source close to the former WAG saying she had called off their engagement.
Friends claimed Waters’ decision stemmed from her own relationship boundaries and was no reflection on the allegations.
