Neighbours near Newcastle have turned media away from the family home of Sydney Swans forward Isaac Heeney, one of five players suspended for the rest of the season for breaching club standards during a night out in Melbourne on August 17.
The suspension is separate from an investigation by Victoria Police, launched after the players brought women to their Melbourne hotel for lap dances. Two women allege they were subjected to sexual conduct beyond what they had agreed to when booked as topless waitresses, and a third woman has approached police with a sexual assault allegation.
Heeney's alleged actions are understood to be the focus of the investigation. He spoke with police last week, but none of the players have been formally interviewed and no charges have been laid.
Family home turns away media
Heeney, 30, was nowhere to be seen at his Maroubra unit after returning to Sydney last week, and his fiancee Steffie Waters was later spotted crying on the phone in Queensland without her engagement ring.
He was also absent from his parents' property on Monday. Neighbours said they had not seen him at the estate in "a long time" and appeared more concerned about "strange cars" using their "private" road than the sexual assault allegation facing him.
One woman said: "We're a private community and we don't want strangers driving up here. I know who you're interested in, but he's not here and he hasn't been for a long time. None of them are here."
Another man objected to a reporter using the lower part of his driveway to turn around, saying: "It's an invasion of our privacy. They're good neighbours."
When told Heeney was a high-profile AFL player accused of sexual assault, he replied: "Well, yes... there is an allegation..." before again raising privacy concerns.
A second neighbour said she was trying to protect her community. "We look out for each other, and the Heeneys are good people," she said. "They go to church, they're Baptists."
The Heeneys bought the property for $350,000 in 2015 and built a four-bedroom home there two years later. Property databases now value it at an estimated $1.3 million.
Four teammates also stood down
Swans players Chad Warner, Riley Bice, Nick Blakey and James Jordon have also been stood down for the remainder of the 2026 AFL season after the club found they had breached standards. The Sydney Swans compete in the Australian Football League, the sport's top competition.
Victoria Police said Sex Crimes Squad detectives are investigating a report of a sexual assault at the Pullman East Melbourne hotel in connection with the incident.
The club found the players had breached standards by staying out late, drinking and bringing women back to their hotel. No charges have been laid, and all players have denied wrongdoing. This report does not suggest any of the players were involved in wrongdoing, only that they have spoken to police about the alleged incident.
New allegation reported
A woman represented by law firm Slater and Gordon has since alleged she was the victim of "multiple sexual assaults" at the hotel, according to The Age. The allegation follows claims from two other women, represented by Carbone Lawyers, who say they were subjected to sexual conduct beyond what they had agreed to as topless waitresses.
Slater and Gordon lawyer Jackson Pannam said on Saturday that the firm had been asked by its client to determine whether there was any basis for a civil claim. "Everyone deserves to be safe going about their life, at home, at work and in public spaces without risk of being assaulted or harmed," he said in a statement. Slater and Gordon said the new allegation has been reported to police.
Captain and coach apologise
Swans captain Callum Mills, speaking alongside coach Dean Cox and flanked by teammates on Friday, apologised to the club's AFLW players and female staff, and to women in the wider community.
"We take these allegations extremely seriously, and we hope the women involved are getting all the support they deserve," Mills said. "We really are disappointed at the actions of these five players, and as a playing group we fully support the club's decisions on the sanctions handed down. We take full responsibility, and we are deeply sorry."
Cox added: "We are extremely disappointed at the actions of the players, and the sanctions imposed by the board show how seriously we take these matters. To those women involved, I hope everyone is getting the support they need."
