Police investigate nude video of ex-AFL star Dane Swan

As police investigate a widely-circulated illicit video of former Magpie Dane Swan, AFL boss Gillon McLachlan has some simple advice for players.

Dane Swan.

AFL chief executive Gillon McLachlan feels for ex-AFL star Dane Swan, the victim of a leaked video showing him in a compromising position.

But football’s supremo said there’s a simple way to ensure illicit footage or sex tapes don’t circulate into the public domain.

Don’t film — or allow yourself to be filmed — in that environment. “Just don’t put yourself in that situation,” McLachlan told 3AW this morning. “I know that’s a challenge. I know people do what they do. But that’s ultimately all you can do I think.”

Victoria Police are investigating how footage of Swan and a woman, which he denies is a “sex tape”, has been distributed online.

Swan issued a strongly worded statement on Channel Nine’s The Footy Show last night.

“It was taken and distributed without my consent. The distribution is a gross breach of my privacy,” it read.

“As it is illegal to distribute such material online without consent I have reported the matter to the police who are investigating the distribution.”

An angry Swan said the footage, which shows him in bed with a woman, was taken “some time ago” and recorded and posted without his consent. The footage has also been shopped around newsrooms in an attempt to cash in on the sexual encounter.

AFL stalwart, and Swan’s friend, Sam Newman savaged the woman behind the release of the tape. Newman later launched into a tirade against political correctness and #MeToo, the international movement which aims to end sexual assault and harassment, particularly against women.

“He (Swan) has done absolutely nothing wrong,” Newman said.

“This is the most disgraceful exhibition of this Me Too movement getting out of hand.

“You are exploiting someone .. you and your peers and people like me should stop being politically correct and say this women’s #MeToo business in the majority has got out of hand.

“It gets taken up by every person seeking their 15 seconds of relevance and fame in their pissy little lives. It’s pathetic.”

"People who engage in this type of conduct are nothing more than the epitome of brazen opportunists." - Sam Newman #9AFLFootyShow pic.twitter.com/HqNw8OdVoC

— The AFL Footy Show (@AFLFootyShow) May 3, 2018

Swan’s manager Liam Pickering said there was a double standard at play, with the AFL player not afforded privacy due to his star status.

“In other similar incidents often with a female victim the media has been keen to protect the victim’s identity,” he said.

“Although Dane understands he is a public figure, he is a victim in this case and no less deserving of that protection.”

On this point McLachlan agreed with the unfortunate position Swan found himself in.

“Everyone, man or woman, should have their privacy respected,” he said. “If something like this comes out it needs to be consented to.” Victorian law allows for prison sentences for adults that share illicit video or photo without the consent of all parties.

While the video is on social media, newspapers in Melbourne have refused to publish any images from the tape, which has been offered to some outlets for a fee.

Sam Newman and Dane Swan.

Ten News in Melbourne were also offered the six-second tape and received text messages from people offering to sell the video.

“Got a sex tape of him cheating on his girl friend how much to send … I’ll send it for ($) 500,” they texted.

“Footage going to highest bidder. You interested???” another texted.

Under Victorian law, a person can get up to two years jail time for publishing sexual images without someone’s consent.

With AAP