By Jake Niall
Carlton president Luke Sayers is asking the club’s members to give him permission to stay at the helm of the club for a 13th year.
Sayers, who is entering his 12th year as a club board member – the limit imposed by Carlton’s constitution – confirmed on Monday that he would ask Carlton’s membership to allow him to stay on the board and as president for the duration of 2025.
Blues president Luke Sayers celebrates a win with Nic Newman in 2022.Credit: Getty Images
Sayers, who took over the presidency in 2021, said the club board had been unanimous in backing him to stay on as president for 2025 – which would require members’ approval at the February 22 annual general meeting – in the interests of club stability.
He said it was likely he would step down as club president at the end of 2025, but he did not rule out remaining in the role for another year, if this was deemed in the interests of the club.
The Blues president also addressed the issue of his stewardship of accounting/consulting giant PwC, saying that the Carlton board had been across the PwC process – Sayers, as the firm’s long-time CEO (he stood down early in 2020) appeared at a Senate hearing – and had backed him to continue in his role at Carlton.
The PwC tax scandal involved senior partners using confidential government tax plans to attract new clients.
Sayers addressed the committee hearing in 2023.Credit: Alex Ellinghausen
Sayers pointed out he was four years out of PwC.
“We’re two years into a five-year plan that we believe is working,” said Sayers of Carlton. “And we’ve had a ton of change over the last two years, you know, half the board, CEO, coach, assistant coaches [have changed] and we just need stability and unity for the next period.
“I’m not changing the constitution. Within the current constitution there is an ability for me to go back to the members and to ask for another 12 months.”
Asked about the Carlton board’s view of his role at PwC, Sayers said: “The PwC thing was a process that was conducted, obviously the board was across the PwC process and the whole industry process. So they took that all into their consideration in whether they think or not it’s in the best interests of the club, and they all unanimously said, ‘We want you to stand for another 12 months.’ So yeah, onwards and upwards.”
PwC had not impacted on his capacity to fulfil his role as Carlton president, he said. “I was able to fulfil all my duties and responsibilities at Carlton and it didn’t ever impact on my ability to complete my role. So, not really.”
Sayers said he was asking for a full two years as president for stability’s sake. “I’m going back and asking for 2025, such that we’ve got a clear, two-year run at this, which will take us to four-fifths of the way through our strategic plan.
Asked if he intended to leave in 2025, Sayers said: “The board would assess what’s in the best interests of the club, but most likely yes, I would leave.
“But I do have an ability to go back again, like you can go back to the members as many times as you want asking for a one-year extension, if it’s in the best interests of the club.
“It’s a judgment as to what’s in the best interests of the club. And right here, you know, all we can see is the next two years is it is in the best interests of the club for all the reasons I outlined that I stick fat, and then we’ll assess it at ’25 as to what’s in the best interests of the club.”
At Carlton, the board elects the president and the members elect the board.
“The board has unanimously asked me to take this to the members,” Sayers said.
He said the change was being sought now, rather than next year “because we want the stability all the way through 2024”.
The president said veteran chief executive Brian Cook had been “awesome in his role” as CEO. Cook is contracted for this year only, but Sayers wishes the CEO to continue. “He’ll make a call on his future in the not-too-distant sort of future, but I certainly do support Brian continuing beyond this year and I hope that’s the case.
“Myself and the board, to Cooky, to the football department, to the coaches and the players, that alignment and that trust – that becomes about by fighting through adversity like we did last year, is absolutely superb.
“That’s a big part of the stability message, we need to keep working that and you know success will ultimately come.”
In 2023, Carlton awoke from a decade out of finals to reach the preliminary final and finish third, resulting in massive increases in crowds (an average of 51,421 – ranked second) and membership (95,277). They reaped $23 million from membership, gate receipts and consumer operations and posted a net operating profit of $1.52 million. The AFL has rewarded the Blues with a large suite of blockbusters in 2024.
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