AFL sex scandal: Simon Lethlean’s finals frolics stun colleagues

THE 2016 footy finals were in full swing and the AFL’s corporate box in Sydney was the place to be. But the story of the night became the action off the field.

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THE 2016 footy finals were in full swing — and so was Simon Lethlean’s affair.

The AFL’s corporate box was the place to be as Greater Western Sydney embarked on its debut finals campaign.

Staff from the NSW office were caught up in the thrilling match atmosphere in Sydney.

But the story of the night became the action off the field.

Simon Lethlean.

Lethlean appeared to be too friendly with one of the young female staff members, Maddi Blomberg.

Eyebrows were raised. Not just because it appeared Lethlean may have been having an affair — but because it was Blomberg.

She was the girlfriend of Kurtley Beale — a Wallaby and one of Australia’s highest-paid rugby union stars.

Kurtley Beale with girlfriend Maddi Blomberg in 2014. Picture: Mitch Cameron

He left Sydney last year to play for the UK-based Wasps club rugby team on a reported salary of $1.45 million a year.

But they remained an item. In Sydney Blomberg was a WAG, and given her profile some were wondering how they thought any affair would ­remain a secret.

On another occasion, a ­social get-together among the Sydney AFL staff at the Dolphin Hotel in the inner suburb of Surry Hills, Blomberg’s ­female colleagues started asking more questions as they witnessed her with Lethlean.

They were wondering aloud once again if Lethlean, the ­architect and boss of the wildly successful new AFLW women’s league, was having an affair with Blomberg.

A female source within the AFL said: “The women in the Sydney and Melbourne head offices were horrified, as they (Lethlean and Blomberg) were not hiding it during the finals series in Sydney last year.

“And they were at a colleague’s birthday party at the Dolphin at the same time.”

Blomberg left the AFL in October and joined Beale in the UK.

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Simon Lethlean speaks to the media during a press conference in June. Picture: Michael Dodge/Getty Images

Since her arrival there, her Instagram feed has revealed a glamorous life of foreign travel and outings to sporting events, including the Wimbledon championships just last week.

Sources inside the AFL claim that Blomberg planned to return to work inside the NSW office before gossip of the affair emerged.

One woman insider was adamant that she was planning to come back to a job there.

The affair began around August last year, sources say. It continued for several weeks while Blomberg was still working at the AFL and before her ­departure to join Beale.

Some sources have claimed that the affair was rekindled in late February this year when Blomberg made a brief return to Sydney.

This aligns with text messages seen by the Herald Sun. But other sources have denied those claims.

The affair definitely ended shortly before Lethlean was promoted to football operations manager on March 2.

It was a good time in Lethlean’s life. He had won the job he coveted and his wife also had a baby around that time.

Text messages sent by Blomberg to a friend at that time show how upset and confused she was.

“I don’t want to be here and I don’t know what I want. And I’m upset he brushed me,” she wrote.

But it appeared Blomberg had some hope for a long-term relationship with Lethlean.

“So you genuinely think he won’t leave her?” she asked a friend about Lethlean’s relationship with his wife.

“If he cheats and is unhappy and says he cares and always contacts me. It’s ultimately my decision.”

But later she appeared to think her chances of a relationship were over.

“He’s not leaving her anyway,” she told a friend.

“I don’t know what to do. I’m so confused. I spoke with him and put it all on (the) line and he said he has feelings cares about me bla bla bla.

“But the reality is he has a baby due in 3 weeks and 3 kids. That’s the reality and it won’t change ... basically he’s brushed it. So don’t know what to do.”

The Herald Sun first asked the AFL questions about Lethlean’s affair in early June. It did not respond until yesterday, when it revealed Lethlean had resigned.

Lethlean made a contrite statement yesterday.

“What I did was wrong,” he said. “I failed my wife, my family, my friends, my organisation and football by making the ­decision I have.

“I have hurt the people who are most important in my life and who I love. They have done nothing to deserve this.

“I am deeply sorry for all the hurt and embarrassment I have caused.

“My priority now is to do everything I can to repair the damage and hurt I have caused my wife and my family.”

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