The Sydney Swans say they are “extremely shocked and disappointed” after several players were involved in an alleged incident at their Melbourne hotel, with police investigating a report of a sexual assault.

Channel 7’s Caroline Wilson revealed the players assisting police with the investigation are Isaac Heeney, Chad Warner, Riley Bice, James Jordon and Nick Blakey, although Blakey’s manager has denied his involvement.

WATCH THE VIDEO ABOVE: Sydney Swans players assisting police with investigation

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It’s understood the five players are returning to Sydney via car on Monday evening.

“(The players) spoke and were interviewed by police today and I now understand are making their way back to Sydney from Melbourne,” Wilson said on 7NEWS.

“I understand they are all driving back to Sydney and the big question is what Sydney do next.”

Wilson said the players spoke to police voluntarily and stressed they hadn’t been arrested.

7NEWS.com.au is not suggesting the players in question are being investigated by police, only that they are assisting with enquiries.

The Swans are now holding crisis talks about their next move with the potential of standing down players looming large.

“They’re definitely looking at standing the players down, quite apart from anything else that might have happened for the fact that they were out late and allegedly drinking,” Wilson said.

“Again, that’s being investigated by the club. I think the AFL view is that one game, Round 24, which isn’t going to have any real impact on the club’s fortunes, probably will not make the statement that both the club and the AFL felt should be made at the very least.”

Wilson later reported on The Agenda Setters that all players involved could be stood down until the completion of the police investigation.

“We think now that the AFL is reaching the conclusion, as is Sydney, that it’s going to be very difficult for any of these players to take the field until the police investigation has concluded,” she said.

The AFL integrity unit are also investigating.

Sydney are locked in to second place on the ladder regardless of the result in Sunday’s final match of the season against North Melbourne.

The Swans will host a qualifying final in the first week of the finals, but the police investigation puts a massive cloud over the club as they hunt a premiership.

Police attended the Pullman on Monday morning, the day after Sydney’s 36-point win over Essendon at the nearby MCG.

Channel 7’s Tom Morris reported three women had confronted Swans staff in the hotel foyer at 7.30am on Monday with coach Dean Cox said to be shocked during the scene.

7NEWS chief AFL reporter Mitch Cleary revealed some of the players went out for drinks at Harlow Bar in Richmond before the party continued at the Pullman.

Morris later added that players didn’t return to the hotel until the early hours of the morning.

A timeline of events. Credit: Seven

“They beat Essendon on Sunday evening at the MCG. That finished around 7:40pm,” Morris said on The Agenda Setters.

“These players all went out to various locations. The coaches got back just after midnight, including Dean Cox.

“At 2:15am, James Jordon and three other senior players got back.

“At 2:30am, Isaac Heeney, Chad Warner and another senior player got back.

“At 3:40am, Nick Blakey arrived back at the hotel.

“The other element here is the alleged victims arrived at the hotel just after 4am.

“That’s the timeline of events according to a witness that was there.”

Witnesses said they saw a “hysterical” and “upset” woman demanding to be let up to the room.

Police attended the Pullman on Monday morning. Credit: 7NEWS

“We’re getting reports from witnesses inside the foyer of the hotel at 7am this morning who saw two women, one of them hysterical, deeply upset, demanding to be let back upstairs to the room to retrieve their possessions,” 7NEWS chief reporter Chris Reason said.

“One of them saying that they felt that they were touched and surrounded by multiple men.”

Sydney on Monday morning confirmed “several players were involved” in the alleged incident and said they notified the AFL and “relevant authorities”.

“We’re still piecing together exactly what’s transpired here,” Swans chief executive Matthew Pavlich said at a brief afternoon press conference.

“Safe to say we’re extremely shocked and disappointed that this has taken place and that the players have found themselves in this situation.”

Asked whether any players were arrested, he declined to provide any details.

“As I said it’s a police matter ongoing, I’m not going to comment any further right now. Appreciate your time, thank you,” Pavlich said to wrap up the one-minute conference.

Victoria Police earlier issued a statement confirming it had opened an investigation into “a report of a sexual assault”.

“The incident occurred at a hotel on Wellington Parade in the early hours of the morning,” police said.

“The exact circumstances are yet to be established and the investigation into the incident remains ongoing.”

Sydney’s win over the Bombers secured second spot on the ladder two weeks out from their first final.

It was also a rare MCG game for the Swans after playing just two games at the ground last year and only one, in Round 2, so far this season.

If you or someone you know needs help, contact 1800 RESPECT (1800 737 732), Sexual Assault Counselling Australia (1800 211 028) or Lifeline (13 11 14).