The Richmond Football Club has issued a statement denying that videos circulating from its “Mad Monday” celebrations were “referencing or making light of recent matters”. The denial comes after footage from the team’s post-season gathering prompted scrutiny amid an ongoing police investigation into allegations involving Sydney Swans players.
On Monday, August 24, 2026, Richmond players gathered at The Garfield Hotel, approximately 80 kilometres east of Melbourne, for their end-of-season celebrations. Videos captured by news outlets and widely circulated showed some players engaging in antics, including one player feigning shock after being spanked on the rear by a teammate, and another clip showing a player whipping a teammate across the back with a belt.
The footage led to suggestions in media reports that the behaviour appeared to reference the serious allegations currently engulfing the Sydney Swans. However, the Richmond Football Club released a statement on Tuesday, August 25, 2026, confirming it was aware of the video. The club stated it had spoken to the players involved, who expressed “embarrassment over their behaviour”. The statement further clarified that the players were “adamant they were in no way referencing or making light of recent matters”.
The Garfield Hotel, which hosted the Richmond team, also defended the players, stating the controversy had been “blown out of proportion”. In a statement, the hotel described the players as “extremely respectful” and noted they had enjoyed “a few quiet beers to unwind after a long season”. The hotel also highlighted that media representatives were waiting outside the venue to film the players.
The “recent matters” referenced by Richmond relate to an ongoing police investigation into allegations of sexual assault following an incident at the Pullman Hotel in East Melbourne on August 17, 2026. This incident occurred after the Sydney Swans’ victory over Essendon. Victoria Police’s Sexual Crimes Squad is currently investigating a report of sexual assault.
In response to the initial incident, the Sydney Swans stood down five players – Riley Bice, Nick Blakey, Isaac Heeney, James Jordon, and Chad Warner – for the remainder of the 2026 season. The club cited breaches of its behavioural standards, stating the players were in “serious breach” of expected conduct. It is important to note that no charges have been laid against any of the suspended Swans players, and there is no suggestion of wrongdoing on their part in relation to the sexual assault allegations.
AFL Chief Executive Andrew Dillon has addressed the broader issue, emphasizing that “respect for women is not negotiable”. Mr. Dillon stated that the actions of the suspended Swans players “fallen well short of the standards our game expects and community deserves”.
The Richmond Football Club’s full statement and further details on the Sydney Swans investigation can be found in the original reporting by ABC News (Tasmania) and other national outlets.