At the Melbourne Grand Prix the weekend before last – and as a bipartisan Senate committee put the final touches to its scathing assessment of his testimony – Luke Sayers was feted across multiple suites.

And five days later at the AFL on Friday night – after the release of said report – he remained a perfect picture of good cheer as the Carlton Blues secured their third win on the bounce. “Come here, Crippa! Did you hear? The Senate just cleared me, brother. Pass the blue Gatorade.”