Police investigating sexual assault allegations involving Sydney Swans players have obtained an audio recording made at a Melbourne property in the days after the alleged incident at the Pullman East Melbourne hotel on 17 August. The recording matters because it reportedly contains detailed first-hand accounts from people who were in the hotel room, and could become a key piece of evidence as detectives continue their inquiry, which they say may take at least another eight weeks to finish.

Sources told the Sydney Morning Herald the recording describes events inside the room, involving five Swans players and two other men who allegedly engaged three women as topless waitresses, as well as accounts of the hotel lobby, where club officials including coach Dean Cox reportedly interacted with some of the women. Victoria Police confirmed detectives travelled to Sydney to interview four of the five suspended players, with the fifth now treated as a witness, and said all parties present have been identified with no further people being sought. No charges have been laid, wrongdoing by the players is not alleged, and the Swans—who face Brisbane in Saturday's qualifying final without the five suspended players—say none of their staff were in the room and deny club involvement.