Stripper Linked to Sydney Swans Hotel Scandal Hospitalised

Sources close to one of the adult entertainers involved in the Sydney Swans hotel controversy say reporting an alleged sexual assault to police has carried a devastating personal toll.

The woman, who cannot be identified for legal reasons, is reportedly struggling with severe paranoia and financial pressure and has been admitted to hospital twice.

The revelations emerged as Isaac Heeney, one of the players dubbed the ‘Pullman Five’, was named the Sydney Swans’ ‘Best and Fairest’ at the club’s end-of-season awards on Thursday.

Heeney, Chad Warner, Nick Blakey, James Jordon and Riley Bice attended a party at Melbourne’s Pullman East Melbourne hotel on August 17. Three adult entertainers later told police they had been sexually assaulted.

Police subsequently opened an investigation, while the five players were stood down for the remainder of the AFL season after breaching the Swans’ 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. Bice was cleared by police in early September and is now being treated solely as a witness.

Although the club imposed sanctions, all five players remained eligible for its awards. The Swans also replaced the traditional ‘Best and Fairest’ title for the Bob Skilton Medal with ‘Most Valuable Player’.

Heeney’s award was understood to have further upset the three women involved in the widely publicised case. It came after reports of a growing view in AFL and legal circles that sexual assault charges could prove difficult to prosecute following a review of statements.

The women cannot be named by the media, but friends say they are distressed by the investigation’s slow progress and believe a smear campaign has been directed at them.

“One told me it’s been the worst month of her life,” an insider said.

“They are all paranoid. They don’t know who they can trust or what is happening with the investigation.

“Then this award [for Heeney]… of course they are upset. Seeing him publicly celebrated is frustrating.”

Despite laws preventing the media from identifying them, the friend said numerous personal details had appeared online, leaving all three women living as though they were “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,” the friend added.

“That has had a knock-on effect because it 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.

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‘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.

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.