Victoria Police say they have interviewed four Sydney Swans players, with the fifth man treated as a “witness” in the investigation of the Pullman Hotel assault allegations.

Players Chad Warner, Isaac Heeney, Riley Bice, Nick Blakey and James Jordon were reportedly partying with adult entertainers in a room on August 17 when the alleged assaults took place.

Three women made a report to Victoria Police.

All five will remain suspended from the club. The one player not interviewed has been widely named as Riley Bice.

Police also said there were 10 people in the Melbourne hotel room, including three alleged victims and three witnesses.

Detectives have confirmed they travelled to NSW this week to interview four men – a 30-year-old Maroubra man, a 25-year-old Paddington man and two Randwick men aged 25 and 26.

Three other men who police believe were in the room at the time were interviewed as witnesses.

Police are not looking to speak with anyone else in relation to the investigation.

No charges have been laid and The New Daily is not suggesting any wrongdoing.

Police said another update on the investigation was not expected for at least eight weeks.

The Swans have “categorically” stated none of their staff were in the hotel room and are not involved in the investigation.

Coach Dean Cox said Sydney’s five exiled players will remain stood down until the end of the AFL season, despite police interviewing only four men.

“All five will remain stood down from the football club,” Cox said on Thursday.

“That’s one thing that we spoke about at the start, the police investigation and then the behavioural nature of it.

“We’re going to be separated, and that will still remain.”

Cox — who has remained in contact with the five players over their wellbeing — said the timeframe was out of the club’s control as they wrestle with making a call on the group’s playing future.
The eight-week period takes in the free agency and trade period from October 2 to

October 14.

“That’s part of the investigation of the way they do it. I just focus on what we can control and what I can control,” Cox said.

Asked about potential impacts on the club’s trade period, the Swans coach was short: “There are so many things that we need to talk about, so not for today.”

While Sydney club chairman Andrew Pridham claimed the suspensions would “torpedo” the second-placed Swans’ premiership hopes, Cox was adamant the playing group still had drive.

The Swans return to the SCG after a bye weekend following their emotional 53-point win over North Melbourne, where Cox and captain Callum Mills were in tears after the siren.

“There’s still an expectation. You’re hosting a qualifying final at home with a chance to go into a prelim, so there’s still a hell of a lot at stake,” Cox said.

“That’s one thing that I want to make sure our players are aware of: the magnitude of this game for our football club and what we’ve spent so long trying to get to.”

1800 RESPECT 1800 737 732

National Sexual Abuse and Redress Support Service 1800 211 028

-with AAP