Victoria Police have announced that no criminal charges will be laid against Sydney Swans players following a months-long inquiry into a night out at the Pullman Hotel in East Melbourne. Police said the decision followed a thorough investigation and legal advice, with insufficient evidence cited as the reason.

The complaint centred on claims that women were inappropriately touched and slapped by men at the hotel in the early morning of August 17, hours after Sydney had defeated Essendon nearby at the MCG. Riley Bice was cleared by police about two weeks after the incident, while Isaac Heeney, 30, Chad Warner, 25, James Jordon, 25, and Nick Blakey, 26, remained subject to a police sex crimes investigation until the latest decision. The players had denied any criminal wrongdoing.S2

The three exotic dancers who went up to the hotel room are threatening civil action against the Swans, Heeney, Warner, Bice and Blakey, as well as former Swan Taylor Adams. Police said that, because of the ongoing civil matter, they were unable to make further comment.S2

The players involved were suspended by the club for breaching team rules, namely going out drinking and bringing women back to the club hotel. Star defender Blakey has since decided to leave Sydney and sign with the Kangaroos this off-season. The matter arrives amid wider scrutiny of the club after star forward Tom Papley returned a positive roadside drug test last week.S2

In a lengthy statement, the Sydney Swans said the club's board had commissioned a review of the AFL program, expected to be completed by the end of the year, with the aim of delivering recommendations and actions for meaningful change. All Swans players are being interviewed by human resources boss and chief executive Matthew Pavlich, and the club acknowledged that the actions and attitudes of some within the club were unacceptable and must change.S2