AFL CEO at the centre of lewd pic scandal takes step toward reconciling with Carlton
Former Carlton president Luke Sayers has re-emerged in public life following a turbulent start to 2025, marked by a scandal involving his social media account.
On Thursday night, Sayers was seen dining at Gimlet, a renowned Melbourne restaurant, alongside close friend and Carlton coach Michael Voss.
The high-profile dinner marks another chapter in what insiders describe as a steady campaign to rebuild his public standing.
Gimlet, a favourite among politicians and media figures, was the perfect venue for the quietly strategic reunion.
Sayers and Voss forged a strong friendship during Sayers' 12-year tenure on the Carlton board, including his term as president.
They were often seen attending high-level events together, even gifting Carlton guernseys to visiting stars like Tom Brady and Chris Martin.
But their dinner comes just months after Sayers' presidency ended in the wake of a controversial image posted to his X account.
On January 9, a graphic photo of a penis appeared on Sayers' verified social media profile, tagging a senior executive from Carlton sponsor Bupa.
Sayers was holidaying in Italy with his family when the image was posted and swiftly deleted. The post remained online for 12 minutes, enough time for others to capture and reshare it.
Sayers denied any involvement and stated his account had been hacked. The AFL Integrity Unit investigated and found that his account had indeed been compromised by a third party.
Despite being cleared of wrongdoing, Sayers resigned from his role on January 22, citing the toll the scandal had taken on his family, friends, and colleagues.
'I did not post the image, either deliberately or accidentally,' Sayers said in an emotional resignation statement.
'I deeply regret that other people including my family, friends, colleagues and football club have been caught up in this matter.'
He added that he was 'outraged' by the alleged cyber attack and would 'leave no stone unturned' in finding out who was responsible. The AFL later confirmed no further investigation would occur.
Sayers and his wife Cate have separated following the scandal involving a lewd image posted from his social media account
The fallout extended beyond Sayers' departure from Carlton. Bupa withdrew its naming rights from a charity event just weeks later, although it confirmed its broader sponsorship with the club would continue.
Sayers also announced he would step back as chairman of his consulting firm, the Sayers Group, although his name remained on its website.
In April, he rebranded the business to Tenet Advisory & Investments and has since resumed limited public appearances.
In recent weeks, Sayers has been seen attending Carlton matches, including as a guest in the MCC Committee Room with outgoing club CEO Brian Cook.
Cook, a long-time ally, was personally recruited by Sayers from Geelong and will step down in October.
Sayers hosted a private thank-you lunch at France-Soir in April, attended by former AFL chief Gill McLachlan, St Kilda president Andrew Bassat, and media adviser Sharon McCrohan.
It was an intimate event with those who had stood by him through the scandal.
His dinner with Voss further signals a thaw in relations between the former president and his beloved Blues.
Fellow diners at Gimlet noted Voss appeared relaxed and tanned after a brief Fiji holiday during the club's bye.
The dinner took place ahead of Carlton's high-stakes clash with traditional rivals Essendon, making its timing even more symbolic.
Voss and Sayers remain close, with Sayers being one of the first to publicly praise Voss after he made headlines last year for chasing down an alleged knife-wielding thief.
Despite his recent re-emergence, controversy still lingers around the club. A separate investigation is now underway into a senior Carlton staffer after complaints from a whistleblower were referred to the AFL Integrity Unit.
The club confirmed the matter is unrelated to gender-based misconduct and the staff member is currently on pre-planned leave. 'The club's first priority is, and always will be, its people,' a statement read.
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