Matthew Pavlich says the Swans have to look at their culture. (AAP: Bianca De Marchi)
Matthew Pavlich says the Swans have to look at their culture. (AAP: Bianca De Marchi)
In short:
Chief executive Matthew Pavlich said the club was "bitterly disappointed" in having to address reports of a poor culture at the Sydney Swans.
Pavlich said the Swans "need to be better" amid allegations of a poor team culture.
Tom Papley allegedly returned a positive roadside test for methylamphetamine on Monday.
Sydney Swans chief executive Matthew Pavlich admits the embattled AFL club has a "long way to go" as it grapples with a culture problem that has been exacerbated by Tom Papley allegedly driving under the influence of drugs.
Papley, a high-profile forward and one of the team's most experienced players, allegedly returned a positive roadside test for methylamphetamine on Monday and will appear in court this month for driving with a suspended licence.
If Papley's second sample is positive, the 216-gamer is likely to face an AFL penalty separate from any legal sanction.
Pavlich spoke briefly to reporters outside the club headquarters in Moore Park today, conceding the Swans had again let down the football community.
"We're bitterly disappointed that we're here talking about this today," Pavlich said.
"We're really disappointed in Tom himself. We voiced that pretty directly to him yesterday.
"We apologise unreservedly to our members, fans and corporate partners.
"We've let them down again. We must be better.
"It's a really disappointing time for the footy club, but given this is a police matter, we cannot make any further comment."
Tom Papley (centre) allegedly returned a positive roadside test for methylamphetamine on Monday. (Getty Images: Darrian Traynor)
Tom Papley (centre) allegedly returned a positive roadside test for methylamphetamine on Monday. (Getty Images: Darrian Traynor)
Papley's looming court appearance comes after the Swans suspended five players for breaching club behavioural standards last August.
Vice-captain Isaac Heeney, Chad Warner, Nick Blakey, James Jordon and Riley Bice were stood down for the remainder of the AFL season and missed the finals.
"We're looking at that right now," Pavlich said, when asked if the Swans had a culture problem.
"We've been identifying that over the last eight weeks.
"We've started some deep work on that with our AFL men's department, independent advisers helping us through that.
"These are the questions we are asking ourselves right now and asking our players."
"This is not something that anyone is stopping short of, knowing that we've got a long way to go," he said.
"We've got some deep work to do to understand how we can get better."
Second test results to take weeks
Papley was pulled over by police in Sydney's Centennial Park on Monday for random testing.
He was subjected to a roadside drug test, with checks revealing his licence was suspended due to non-payment of a parking fine.
A secondary sample of oral fluid was taken for further analysis, with the results from the second test expected to take at least four weeks.
Papley was issued a 24-hour driving prohibition and will appear before Waverley Local Court on November 26.
The 30-year-old's test result has overshadowed a landmark week for the Swans, who on Sunday will host their first AFLW home final at Henson Park.
No update on hotel incident
Meanwhile, Victoria Police are yet to provide an update on an investigation into sexual assault allegations at East Melbourne's Pullman Hotel following a round 23 AFL game.
Detectives in early September travelled to NSW to interview a 30-year-old Maroubra man, a 25-year-old Paddington man and two Randwick men aged 25 and 26.
It is understood the men interviewed were Heeney, Warner, Jordon and Blakey.
No charges have been laid. AAP is not suggesting any wrongdoing on the part of the suspended players.
Bice is no longer a person of interest for police, while Blakey departed the Swans during last month's trade period to join North Melbourne.