Sydney Swans player Taylor Adams knocked unconscious at new Justin Hemmes venue
Updated ,first published
Experienced Sydney Swans midfielder Taylor Adams was knocked unconscious in an incident opposite Justin Hemmes’ new venue in the eastern suburbs on Saturday night.
The 32-year-old young man was punched in the face during an argument with two men and was taken to the hospital for treatment.
NSW Police said officers were called to a licensed premises in Vickery Avenue, Rose Bay, just after 10pm on Saturday night following reports of an assault.
“Officers attached to Eastern Suburbs Police Area Command attended and were told a 32-year-old man had been involved in an altercation and was subsequently assaulted by two men,” police said.
“Allegedly, the 32-year-old man was punched in the face by one of the men, causing a small cut on his cheek, and was knocked to the ground, briefly losing consciousness.
“The men left before police arrived. Police were told the two men did not know the 32-year-old man.”
The Swans have been contacted for comment.
The incident took place at Tingira Memorial Park, located in front of Rose Bay beach and across the road from Club Rose Bay, after Adams left the venue.
Adams is still recovering from a partial Achilles tear he suffered during preseason training in mid-December, after playing just four games last year due to injury.
He joined the Swans in 2024 after a decade at Collingwood; where he was the club’s best and fairest player in 2020, earning All-Australian honors.
He featured in the Magpies’ narrow defeat to the West Coast Eagles in the 2018 grand final but missed playing in Collingwood’s win over Brisbane in 2023 due to a hamstring injury.
Adams was drafted by the Greater Western Sydney Giants in 2011 and played 31 games for the AFL expansion team before heading to Melbourne.
He was treated by NSW Ambulance paramedics before being taken to St Vincents Hospital for further treatment.
Police reported that the investigation into the incident continues.
Club Rose Bay reopened in December after it was renovated by hospitality giant Merivale, led by Hemmes, who runs the venue.
It has been closed since August 2024, when it was placed into administration with a debt of $600,000.
The redeveloped club features a retro 1960s airport-themed cocktail bar, a sports bar, a beach bar with pickleball and basketball courts, as well as an Italian restaurant called Notti’s.
A queue formed down the street at the reopening as customers came out to peer inside the decades-old RSL club.
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EXPLANATION
An earlier version of this article stated that the incident occurred at Club Rose Bay.
Chris Barrett is an investigative reporter for The Sydney Morning Herald and The Age. He is a former Southeast Asia correspondent and chief sports correspondent.Connect with: excitement or email.
