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.”
Luke and Cate Sayers at Derby Day in Melbourne two years ago, shortly before the lewd photo scandal erupted.Credit: Penny Stephens
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.”
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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.
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.
AFL executives (from left) Greg Swann, Andrew Dillon and Laura Kane at the Brownlow Medal count.Credit: AFL Photos
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.
‘Doesn’t need to be there for the daily grind’: Star backs Scott
Geelong captain Patrick Dangerfield has defended coach Chris Scott’s decision to take extended leave, and has revealed Tyson Stengle has all but been ruled out of the season opener.
Carlton star Darcy Vescio and Geelong captain Patrick Dangerfield at the AFL’s partnership extension with Virgin Australia.Credit: Justin McManus
Scott has regularly taken time off through pre-Christmas training in his long and decorated time in charge, but that he has yet to return to full-time coaching at this stage of the summer has raised eyebrows across the league.
Entering his 16th season in charge, Scott will also have Origin duties next week when he guides Victoria in their clash against Western Australia in Perth.
Scott could yet have his spearhead Jeremy Cameron available for that clash, with the two-time Coleman medallist telling Seven News on Thursday that he remained hopeful of playing despite still being on the comeback trail from the broken arm he suffered in the grand final against the Lions.
Cameron admitted he’d been nursing his arm through training. He has been involved in non-contact drills through the pre-season.
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As the Cats, beaten grand finalists last year, ramp up preparations, Dangerfield insisted Scott’s absence was not an issue.
“We will make slight adjustments with the way we are going to train and the way we are going to play, but it’s not like Chris isn’t over those things, anyway,” Dangerfield said on Thursday at the AFL’s partnership extension with Virgin Australia.
“He just doesn’t need to be there for the daily grind that pre-season will provide at times. It’s a long year – six months when things get going.
“He, like us, wants to be in a position where we are at our best when it matters most. I think this is probably the way clubs will go in the future given the demands that are put on coaches, particularly the senior coach.”
Dangerfield, who will play in the Origin clash, said assistant coaches James Kelly, James Rahilly and Nathan Buckley had led the program well in Scott’s absence.
Stengle, the premiership small forward, took a leave of absence before Christmas and did not return when training resumed last month. He has since returned to the club, and is in full training.
Tyson Stengle is unlikely to play in Geelong’s first game, according to skipper Patrick Dangerfield.Credit: Getty Images
However, Dangerfield all but ruled Stengle out of the Cats’ opening round clash against Gold Coast on March 6. “I wouldn’t have thought [so],” Dangerfield said when asked if Stengle had enough time to push for the season opener.
“We have to be mindful we want Tyson playing his best footy as quickly as possible but in the most important parts of the season.”
Dangerfield said Tanner Bruhn had been training well, the midfielder having missed the entire 2025 campaign when charged with rape and sexual assault. The charges were dropped in November.
Dangerfield said Buckley, the Collingwood playing great and former coach, had settled in well as backline coach, but will also have input with the midfielders.
“Personally, for me, it was a bit of a fanboy moment to be honest because he was my favourite player growing up. For a lot of our players drafted now or are in their early 20s, I don’t think they appreciate just how incredible he was as a player,” Dangerfield said.
“They see him as the ex-Collingwood coach. He has been a great addition to the team.”
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Dangerfield said the tightened stand rule, one of seven new rule changes, would take time to adjust to, for players must freeze as soon as an opponent marks or is paid a free kick inside the protected five-metre zone. But he said it would be great for the game as it should help spark a more attacking ethos.
“There will be 50s, people will get frustrated, but I actually think it will be a better spectacle. I think it will open up the game a bit more, there will be less congestion on those short 15 metre to 20m kicks which, hopefully as a forward, the ball gets in a bit faster before teams are back,” Dangerfield said.
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