The Richmond Football Club says players were not "referencing or making light of recent matters" in videos circulating from the team's post-season celebrations.
Media camped outside the venue filmed players spanking each other on the rear.
The venue that hosted the Tigers for their Mad Monday drinks has lauded them for being "extremely respectful".
The Richmond Football Club has denied its players were "referencing or making light of recent matters" in footage recorded during their post-season celebrations.
Tiger players were recorded during a drinking session at a Victorian country pub, with one player seen feigning shock after being spanked on his rear by a teammate.
Another teammate whips a fellow player on the back with a belt in footage captured by news outlets on Monday, leading to speculation they were referencing the ongoing Sydney Swans scandal.
"Richmond is aware of a video circulating from a player end of season gathering," a statement read.
"The club has spoken to the players who have expressed their embarrassment over their behaviour.
"The players are adamant they were in no way referencing or making light of recent matters."
AFL boss Andrew Dillon speaks to the media about the Sydney Swans scandal, saying "the actions of a few don't define the actions of the entire industry".
The Tigers finished second last this season with a 3-20 win-loss record.
The pub that hosted Richmond's drinks said the controversy had been blown out of proportion.
"In our view, this has been blown out of proportion," the Garfield Hotel, 80 kilometres east of Melbourne, said in a statement posted on social media.
The hotel said it "could not speak more highly" of how players behaved.
"For such a young group, they were extremely respectful and a fun group of boys to deal with," the statement read.
