Women in Swans scandal suffering 'severe stress and anxiety', lawyer says

In short: Two of the women at the centre of the Sydney Swans sexual assault scandal are suffering "severe trauma" but are receiving support, their lawyer says. The women, who are understood to be adult entertainers, are claiming damages for pain and suffering. No police charges have been laid over the alleged incident. A lawyer representing two of the women involved in an alleged sexual assault scandal engulfing the Sydney Swans says his clients are suffering "severe stress and anxiety". Several adult entertainers are understood to have joined players at Melbourne's Pullman Hotel after being hired in the hours after the Swans' win against Essendon on Sunday night. Five players — Isaac Heeney, Nick Blakey, Chad Warner, Riley Bice and James Jordon — have been stood down by the Swans for breaching the club's standards on drinking and staying out late following last Sunday's win over Essendon in Melbourne. Separately, police are investigating a report of sexual assault, which the ABC understands centres on a player allegedly touching one of the women without her consent. Police have not made any arrests or laid charges. Lawyer John Karantzis is representing two of the women, who he said would be claiming damages for "pain and suffering" following the incident. "They're suffering severe stress and anxiety as a result of the events occurring on Monday morning," Mr Karantzis said. "My clients are suffering severe trauma from what happened." Mr Karantzis said the women were told the men were carpenters and allege there were more people in the room than the five players identified by the Swans. The Swans issued a statement rejecting suggestions other people involved with the club were in the room. "The Sydney Swans can confirm that all investigations carried out by the Club have consistently indicated that the only representatives of the Club in the room central to the police investigation were the five players who have been stood down," the statement said. "We have every reason to consider that reports to the contrary are simply false." Mr Karantzis said the women made a complaint to police on Monday morning and were interviewed by police. He said the women were being supported. "Fortunately, they've got loving family and we've provided them with professional support which is needed," he said. Late on Wednesday night, the players who have been stood down issued an apology to everyone involved in the scandal. This morning Swans Captain Callum Mills said he was "deeply shocked and disappointed" and said he had not witnessed anything like this behaviour before. "We really are disappointed at the action of these five players," he said.