Five Sydney Swans players have been publicly condemned while a police investigation is underway and no criminal charges have been laid against them.

We are calling for public restraint and respect for due process until the police investigation is complete and the evidence has been assessed.

The Sydney Swans were entitled to discipline the players for behaviour that breached the club's standards. We do not challenge the club's right to do so.

But disciplinary action by a football club is not a criminal conviction.

A police investigation is not a finding of guilt.

An allegation is not a conviction.

We believe in accountability. We also believe in the presumption of innocence.

We are not asking anyone to prejudge the investigation in favour of these five men. We are asking people not to prejudge it against them.

Let the police investigate. Let the evidence determine what happened.

Until then, these five young men deserve to be treated fairly and with dignity. They deserve the same presumption of innocence that we would want for anyone in their position.

We are asking anyone who believes in fairness, due process and the presumption of innocence to stand with Isaac Heeney, Chad Warner, Nick Blakey, James Jordon and Riley Bice.

What have they done?

That question should be answered by evidence and due process — not by headlines, speculation or public condemnation.