Full Breakdown
Settlement and Apology in Sayers Defamation Case
By Drooid · · How we work
Background & Context
In January 8, a lewd photograph of former Carlton Football Club president Luke Sayers’ genitals was posted on his X (formerly Twitter) account while he was travelling in Italy with his then-wife and daughters. The image was quickly removed but was captured in screenshots that spread on social media. Sayers denied posting the picture, claiming his account had been hacked. He later submitted a statutory declaration to the Australian Football League (AFL) alleging that his ex-wife, Cate Sayers, had accessed the account, posted the image and tagged a female executive at Bupa. Cate Sayers sued for defamation, asserting that the declaration contained false accusations about her mental health, sexual history and involvement in the post.
Timeline
- January 8 – Explicit photo appears on Sayers’ X account and is deleted shortly thereafter.
- Weeks after the post – Sayers files a statutory declaration with the AFL, accusing Cate Sayers of posting the image.
- Early in the year – Cate Sayers initiates defamation proceedings in the Supreme Court of Victoria.
- Mid-year – Sayers seeks to move the case to the Federal Circuit and Family Court; the application is rejected, and the Supreme Court is deemed the appropriate venue.
- September 11, 2026 – The Supreme Court hears the case; lawyers read a settlement-related apology; Justice Andrew Watson dismisses the proceedings and commends the parties for reaching a settlement.
Official Statements & Responses
- Luke Sayers issued an unreserved apology in court, acknowledging the “extreme hurt and harm” caused to Cate Sayers and confirming that she did not post the image.
- She declined to comment on any financial terms.
- The AFL reiterated that its January 2025 investigation found Sayers’ account had been “compromised” and that there was no evidence he breached AFL rules. A league spokesperson said the AFL’s jurisdiction was limited to registered officials and that it stands by the original findings.
- Justice Andrew Watson noted that “all litigation involves time, expense and risk,” and praised the parties for resolving the matter without further trial.
Conflicting Reports & Gaps
- Investigation scope – The AFL’s inquiry cleared Sayers of rule breaches but accepted his statutory declaration without forensic examination of his phone or an interview with Cate Sayers. Cate’s legal filings argue that the investigation was inadequate for these reasons.
- Evidence of account compromise – While the AFL concluded the account was compromised, the statutory declaration that formed the basis of the defamation claim alleged that Cate accessed the phone in March 2025 and copied confidential material. No public forensic evidence has been disclosed to confirm either claim.
- Potential exposure of senior AFL executives – The settlement prevents further disclosure of how AFL officials, including corporate affairs head Sharon McCrohan and general counsel Stephen Meade, may have been involved in managing the scandal.
Verbatim Quotes
- “All litigation involves time, expense and risk,” — Justice Andrew Watson
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The resolution of the Sayers defamation case ends a high-profile dispute that intertwined personal allegations, AFL governance, and media scrutiny. While the settlement halts further court revelations, unanswered questions about the AFL’s investigative process and the handling of confidential material remain.
