Carlton board director Craig Mathieson quits after post-game bust-up

One of Carlton’s senior powerbrokers has tendered his resignation after an incident in the rooms after the team’s loss to Sydney.

SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA – MAY 26: The Blue looks dejected as they leave the field after defeat during the round 11 AFL match between Sydney Swans and Carlton Blues at Sydney Cricket Ground, on May 26, 2023, in Sydney, Australia. (Photo by Mark Kolbe/AFL Photos/ via Getty Images )

The Carlton Football Club are mired in more turmoil after the resignation of board director Craig Mathieson in tumultuous circumstances.

News Corp reports that Mathieson was at the centre of a verbal altercation in the Carlton rooms after the loss to Sydney, which marked the club’s fourth-straight loss and sees them languishing in 13th.
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Mathieson was reportedly vocal in the rooms after the 26-point loss, prompting club president Luke Sayers to step in.

The confrontation was apparently seen by family and friends of players and fellow board members, but the players themselves were in a meeting and did not see it.

Mathieson quit the board over the weekend, with Seven’s Tom Browne reporting that Sayers considered the altercation “below professional standards of what is expected, which has led to Mathieson departing.”

Former Carlton board director Craig Mathieson.

Carlton president Luke Sayers. Pic: Michael Klein

Carlton released a statement on Mathieson’s departure on Monday morning.

“The Carlton Football Club has accepted the resignation of Director Craig Mathieson, who has served on the Carlton Board since 2012,” the statement read.

“Mathieson made the decision to resign after serving as director for 11 years and overseeing the Club’s financial and audit remits.

“Mathieson’s position as a Director would have become vacant at the end of 2024 due to him reaching his maximum term under the constitution, and the Club will now take counsel from its Independent Nominations Committee to commence a thorough process for a Director replacement.”

Sayers thanked Mathieson for his time at the Club, as part of the statement.

“We accept Craig’s decision to resign from his role as a Club director and thank him for all he has contributed to the Blues across 11 years of service.”

Mathieson is the nephew of outspoken Carlton figure Bruce Mathieson, whose gift of about 300 poker machines to the club is part of a hospitality revenue stream that was worth $20.1 million last year to the club.

He is worth $1.4 billion, and is the 32nd richest person in Australia, making his fortune off the back of poker machines and pubs.

Bruce Mathieson attacked the club board a fortnight ago, telling News Corp he would “never ever go out of (his) way to help Carlton again while any of these people are still in charge.”

“(Coach Michael Voss) is going to be slaughtered because the Carlton board is so weak,” Mathieson said.

“I’m not trying to chop Vossy in half. I just think we are run pathetically. It’s a real shame.”