Australian footballers will not be charged after hotel incident, police say

Victoria Police will not charge four Australian Football League players investigated over an alleged sexual assault at a Melbourne hotel, citing insufficient evidence after a thorough investigation and legal advice. The decision closes the criminal investigation for now, but the women who made allegations are pursuing civil claims, which use a different standard of proof.

The incident took place in August at the Pullman Hotel after a game. Sydney Swans players Isaac Heeney, James Jordon and Chad Warner, and former Swans player Nick Blakey, were suspended for the rest of the season; a fifth suspended player, Riley Bice, had already been cleared by police. The Swans said their suspensions were separate from the police process and that they were reviewing the club’s programme, while the AFL said it could investigate further if new relevant information emerges.