Sayers fails to settle defamation stoush as court battle with ex-wife looms

Luke Sayers, the former president of the Australian Football League (AFL) club Carlton, has failed to reach a settlement with his ex-wife, Cate Sayers, despite multiple attempts to resolve their ongoing defamation dispute. The couple is set to face each other in the Victorian Supreme Court later this week, where Sayers is seeking to keep confidential certain materials related to the AFL's investigation into a scandal involving the public release of an explicit photograph of himself on his X account in January 2025. The legal battle is expected to span two days and will focus heavily on whether specific documents can be protected under legal privilege. According to a source close to Cate Sayers, who spoke anonymously, there has been no resolution to the dispute, and all overtures from Sayers' legal representatives have been turned down. Cate has filed a defamation lawsuit against her ex-husband, alleging that his handling of the incident was misleading and damaging to her reputation. The core of the case revolves around a statutory declaration Sayers submitted to the AFL, which claimed that Cate had lied about posting the explicit image, suffered from mental illness, and sometimes refused to take her prescribed medication. The declaration also included a request that neither the police nor the AFL interview Cate. The legal proceedings occur at a time when the AFL is grappling with several controversies that threaten its public image. Victoria Police is currently investigating an alleged sexual assault in a Melbourne hotel room where five Sydney Swans players, including star Isaac Heeney, were present during a night of partying involving drugs and alcohol. All five players have denied any wrongdoing. Additionally, the AFL and its chairman, Craig Drummond, are dealing with criticism over the handling of contract negotiations involving Geelong Cats player Jake Kolodjashnij, who has suffered repeated concussions, and the inclusion of a secret legal waiver in his contract. The Sayers defamation case is likely to bring intense scrutiny upon two of the AFL’s top executives, Sharon McCrohan, executive general manager of corporate affairs, and Stephen Meade, general counsel, as well as the AFL’s Integrity Unit. These officials are expected to be questioned regarding their roles in the investigation into Sayers’ actions and the subsequent clearance he received from the AFL. The case will unfold concurrently with the AFL finals, with Carlton scheduled to face Geelong in a highly anticipated match. Sayers’ statutory declaration was pivotal in securing his exoneration from the AFL following the incident. The document, which was central to his defense, also implicated a female executive from one of Carlton’s sponsors who was tagged in the original post. Cate has argued in court that the AFL’s investigation into the matter, alongside Carlton’s internal procedures, was not carried out with adequate honesty or transparency. She has stated that the AFL worked closely with Carlton and Sayers to ensure a public outcome that absolved him of blame. A source close to Cate emphasized that any settlement would require Sayers to issue a full apology. However, such an apology could pose significant legal consequences for Sayers, particularly because his statutory declaration was used to secure his clearance from the AFL. Making false statements in a statutory declaration is a serious offense that could lead to substantial fines or imprisonment. The Sayers couple, once prominent figures at social events, have four adult daughters. Two of them have publicly expressed their support for their father as he navigates this high-profile legal battle with their mother. The case continues to draw attention not only due to its personal nature but also because of its broader implications for the AFL and its governance practices.