Shocking text and emails from senior AFL officials are allegedly set to be uncovered in the Luke Sayers “d*** pic” scandal, according to reports.
Sayers, 57, stepped down as Carlton President in January 2025 after a picture of his penis appeared on his Twitter account.
He claimed his account had been hacked and was subsequently cleared of any wrongdoing following an investigation from the AFL Integrity Unit.
But now, as part of the Supreme Court battle with his estranged wife Cate, the Herald Sun understand subpoenas are set to be issued for messages and emails from key AFL figures in the days after the scandal broke.
The sensational report states there are sources close to the couple who believe the messages show that AFL officials were keen to accept Mr Sayers’ claim that his wife had posted the image.
It is alleged by Mrs’ Sayers lawyers within documents pertaining to the defamation claim that the AFL and Carlton sought to defend Sayers in the wake of the scandal.
AFL spin doctor Sharon McCrohan — who had to deal with the reaction to the scandal — has reportedly received a legal letter urging her to keep all conversations she has relating to the matter.
AFL commission chairman Craig Drummond and league chief executive Andrew Dillon are said to be aware of the letter.
The messages in question are understood to be between figures in Mr Sayers’ team — such as McCrohan — and AFL bosses such as league general counsel Stephen Meade, integrity unit boss Tony Keane and former corporate affairs chief Brian Walsh.
Ex-Labor minister and AFL consultant Martin Pakula is another individual reportedly set to receive a subpoena from Mrs Sayers’ legal team.
Cate is alleging the AFL Integrity Unit made no attempt to verify his claims – with Cate claiming the investigation was not “adequate”.
The court battle centres around how involved Mr Sayers’ team were in the release of an AFL statement on January 21 which cleared him of breaching competition respect and responsibility rules — and stated the picture had not been posted by him.
Mrs Sayers also claims the three parties released co-ordinated media statements — while journalist briefings are also being looked into.
Amid the scandal, the AFL Integrity Unit is set to go under the spotlight once again after they were previously criticised for how their handling of several issues.
These included the Hawthorn racism accusations, Essendon drugs probe, and Melbourne tanking saga.
