By Peter Ryan
Now that Carlton president Luke Sayers, the club and the AFL integrity unit made it clear in a series of statements they are working together to support those impacted by the posting – by someone other than Sayers – of the lewd image to his social media account, there’s only one question that stands out from a football standpoint.
Will he remain as club president for what was always going to be his final season at the helm?
People at Carlton, the AFL, and the club sponsor that employs a person caught up in what a Sayers spokesperson rightfully described as “a shocking incident” will formulate a response that has those affected at the heart of their decisions.
Carlton president Luke Sayers.Credit: Elke Meitzel
The Carlton sponsorship remains in place and there is no suggestion that it is in jeopardy as the club and the company remain in dialogue.
A spokesperson said Sayers did not post the lewd image to his social media account.
The Blues say they will give another update when in a position to do so, with half a dozen industry figures familiar with the situation – but speaking on condition of anonymity – suggesting Sayers has the following options once he returns to Australia:
He can support the results of the AFL integrity investigation being made public. The AFL confirmed on Friday the inquiry has been under way since the Blues referred the matter to them soon after the post appeared.
“The Carlton Football Club made the AFL aware of the matter involving the social media post last week, with the AFL integrity unit making ongoing enquiries and providing appropriate assistance and support to those required across the last week. The enquiries remain ongoing,” an AFL spokesperson said in a statement.
Making the outcome public might help to protect other high-profile figures in business and sport who could be vulnerable to such an attack made with malicious intent. In the era of deep fakes, manipulation of images and cybercrime, such an investigation would serve a broad purpose. It would also be consistent with the president’s emotional declaration he would leave no stone unturned in finding the culprit after he said he had been hacked.
One possibility is that a crime has been committed against him.
There is also the possibility in these incidents that someone known to the person hacked has been involved, and a resolution to the matter is better for everyone if played out in private.
If Sayers does not want the results of an investigation made public, but believes he can continue as president, he could explain the situation to the club’s board. The board could then outline its response to members and sponsors, and why, in its view, the club president – who is departing at the end of 2025 – remains the best person to lead and represent the club during this season.
The third option would be for Sayers to stand aside immediately to minimise the distraction to the club and protect other people and organisations in his orbit.
Given the work he has done to get the club on track on-field, that might be a huge disappointment to him. But it would also allow others to move forward without this issue remaining alive in the public domain and hovering over the Blues in 2025.
Alternatively, the club and AFL could try to ride the drama out as a personal and legal matter for Sayers, irrelevant to his position as club president. Given Sayers is leaving at the end of the season, a handover plan could be put in place with board member Robert Priestley a potential option as successor in the hope the caravan moves on.
That’s possible, but a tough road to walk, with the club needing to minimise distractions in its quest for a first flag in 30 years.
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