AFL Chief Executive Stands Firm on Integrity Unit Amid Renewed Controversy
AFL CEO Andrew Dillon has publicly expressed his full confidence in the league's Integrity Unit, as questions resurface about its investigation into former Carlton Football Club president Luke Sayers. The controversy stems from an incident last year when an illicit image was posted on Sayers' social media account, leading to his resignation and now a defamation lawsuit filed by his estranged wife.
The Social Media Scandal and Investigation
In January 2025, a sexually explicit image appeared on Luke Sayers' X account, which also tagged a female executive from Bupa, one of Carlton's primary sponsors. Sayers immediately denied posting the image, asserting that his account had been compromised by hackers. The AFL Integrity Unit conducted an investigation and subsequently cleared Sayers of any wrongdoing, concluding that his account had indeed been "compromised."
Following the release of these findings, Sayers resigned from his position as Carlton president just fifteen minutes later. The investigation noted that Sayers, who previously worked for professional services firm PwC, was not responsible for the publication of the image.
Defamation Lawsuit Emerges Twelve Months Later
The saga has reignited a year after the initial incident, with The Australian Financial Review reporting that Sayers' estranged wife, Cate, has lodged a defamation lawsuit against him. Court filings at Victoria's Supreme Court allege that Luke wrongly implied in a statutory declaration provided to the AFL Integrity Unit that Cate was responsible for posting the photo on his account.
The legal claim also accuses the former Carlton boss of making "damaging" comments about her mental health. As part of the proceedings, the AFL may be required to disclose details of Sayers' account of the scandal. It is important to note that there is no suggestion that Sayers blamed Cate for the image or that Cate was responsible for its publication.
AFL Leadership Responds to Ongoing Legal Case
On Thursday, AFL CEO Andrew Dillon addressed the situation, stating that the league would "do what we need to do" if called upon to assist in the legal case. He praised the Integrity Unit, describing it as "super well resourced" and led by experienced administrator Tony Keane.
"I have absolute faith in what they do," Dillon told The Herald Sun. "We have an experienced and well-resourced investigative and integrity department and they have done a good job and continue to do that."
Meanwhile, Luke Sayers has responded to the allegations through NewsCorp, stating that he "rejects the claims being made against him" and intends to defend himself vigorously. His daughters have also voiced support, indicating they would provide evidence if necessary but hoping it does not reach that point.
Background and Broader AFL Context
Luke and Cate Sayers were reportedly in Italy when the image was published online, and they have since separated. The defamation lawsuit adds another layer to a scandal that has already had significant personal and professional repercussions.
In a separate development, Dillon also commented on recent personnel changes at AFL headquarters, including the departure of government relations chief Jude Donnelly just before Christmas. Despite these shifts, Dillon emphasized that the league maintains a strong and experienced executive team, expressing excitement for the upcoming season with leaders like Greg Swann, Laura Kane, and Tom Harley in key roles.
"The AFL is in an incredibly strong position," Dillon concluded, underscoring his confidence in the organization's direction amid ongoing challenges.
