‘Well in the past’: Andrew Dillon stands by integrity unit after explosive Sayers court claims

AFL chief executive Andrew Dillon said he had full faith in the league’s investigation of former Carlton president Luke Sayers, and insists any internal ructions in the football department at head office have been resolved.

The thoroughness of the league’s handling of the Sayers scandal last year after a lewd photo had been posted on his X account on January 8 has been questioned after Sayers’ wife, Cate, made explosive allegations in filings with the Victorian Supreme Court last month.

An AFL investigation last year found that Sayers, the former PwC chief executive of Australia, had not breached AFL rules, and that his account had been compromised, the image posted “by a person not being Mr Sayers”.

However, it remains a mystery as to who posted the picture.

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Dillon, speaking at the launch of the league’s contract extension with Virgin Australia on Thursday, said he had no issues with the AFL integrity unit’s investigation led by former detective Tony Keane.

“The integrity department of the AFL is super well resourced and led by a very experienced administrator in Tony Keane. I have got absolute faith in the work they do,” Dillon said.

Sayers and his wife are going through a divorce.

Cate Sayers’ statement of claim to the court could soon be made public.

Asked if the league would participate in a court case should this be required, Dillon replied: “I am not across the details of that case, but we will do what we need to do.”

Dillon reinforced he had been at ease with the investigation.

“As I said, we have an experienced, well-resourced investigative and integrity department, and they do a good job, and they will continue to do that.”

That the AFL opted to investigate has been questioned after there was no official complainant.

“It was a matter the AFL looked at and investigated. It’s well in the past,” Dillon said.

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Cate Sayers has alleged the former Carlton president had allegedly implied she was responsible for posting the photo – a grainy photograph of male genitals – on his social media account, while also making claims about her mental health.

Sayers, according to the Australian Financial Review, allegedly made the claims about his wife in a statutory declaration provided to the AFL’s integrity unit. He has denied his wife’s claims.

This masthead is not suggesting Sayers has blamed Cate Sayers, or that she was responsible for the post, only that the allegation has been made. The pair have separated.

The couple’s daughters, Bronte and Claudia, have since gone public, defending their father.

Meanwhile, Dillon has been under fire from clubs after a tumultuous 2025 when the league regularly found itself in the headlines for poor off-field management in its handling of football-related matters, sparking major change with the demotion of Laura Kane and the recruitment of veteran administrator Greg Swann.

The internal ructions intensified before Christmas after the departure of government relations boss Jude Donnelly, a long-time staffer and key supporter of Dillon.

Dillon said all teething issues have been resolved.

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“Look, we have got a super-experienced executive team and I am just really confident, super excited for the year ahead. Greg Swann and Laura leading the footy, Tom Harley coming in as chief operating officer. Again, a really experienced executive team. I am excited for the year ahead,” he said.

Dillon would not confirm if he had been forced to intervene in clarifying the roles of Swann and Kane.

“I am not going to go into coming and going and work issues, but Greg and Laura are super-experienced administrators, and they are both doing an incredible job. As I said, I can’t wait for the season to start,” Dillon said.

Clubs had expressed concerns about low-level confusion in certain administrative areas.

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