Sayers’ daughters weigh in on parents’ legal fight

The legal dispute between ex-Carlton president Luke Sayers and his wife, Cate, has escalated after two of the estranged couple’s daughters weighed in on behalf of their father.

In a joint statement, Bronte and Claudia Sayers – two of the four Sayers daughters – said they stood behind their father, based on their experiences, and were willing to give evidence supporting his legal defence against their mother’s defamation proceeding, if necessary.

Amid the escalation of the dispute, a source close to Cate Sayers said the defamation action against her husband was not related to the terms of separation of the couple, who have yet to reach a financial settlement.

Sisters Claudia and Bronte Sayers said in a statement issued to select media: “We have never spoken publicly about the matters affecting our family but given recent events, we wish to make our position clear.

“We are very sorry that this continues to play out publicly. We would have much preferred for all of this to be resolved privately, without going to court.

“This dispute sits within a long and complicated family history, with very different accounts of past events. Based on what we have lived and experienced, we stand behind our father and his position.

“If needed, we will give evidence to support Dad’s defence – but we still hope it won’t come to that.”

Bronte is 22 and Claudia 24.

Luke Sayers also defended himself against the claim made against him, by Cate Sayers, who has issued defamation proceedings against her husband in the Victorian Supreme Court.

“Mr Sayers rejects the claims being made against him,” a spokesperson for the businessman and former Carlton president said in a separate statement on Friday.

While a source close to Cate Sayers reiterated their position that her Supreme Court action stood apart – and was not linked to “personal or separation issues,” a spokesperson for the well-known defamation law firm acting for Cate Sayers, Giles George, would only say on Friday: “The matter is before the court, and it is not appropriate to comment.”

Earlier this week, a representative of Cate Sayers confirmed the defamation proceedings.

“We can confirm that proceedings have been commenced in the Supreme Court of Victoria,” a spokesman said in a statement to the Australian Financial Review on Tuesday.

“As the matter is now before the court, it would be inappropriate to comment further.”

The AFL has been enmeshed in the dispute because Cate Sayers’ defamation claim centres on statements her husband made to the AFL’s integrity unit last summer in its investigation over the so-called “dick pic” scandal, in which a lewd image was posted on X from Luke Sayers’ account.

Sayers said at the time that he had not uploaded the image himself.

The AFL investigation – which did not interview Cate Sayers – found that Luke Sayers had not breached AFL rules, since his X account had been compromised. He resigned from Carlton before the 2025 season, under pressure to step aside amid the fallout.

Cate Sayers had not been given access to her husband’s statements or record of interview to the AFL, which forms the basis of her defamation action.

The AFL does not provide statements or details from their integrity investigations to other parties, and it is on this protocol that Cate Sayers would have been denied those statements, according to an AFL source apprised of the situation who did not speak on record due to its sensitivity.

It is expected that Cate Sayers will subpoena those statements from the AFL as part of her defamation case.

A further complication for the AFL is that its communications and government relations boss, Sharon McCrohan, acted for Luke Sayers as an adviser at the time of last summer’s scandal.

She started in the AFL job at the end of September.

The escalation of the dispute between the Sayers is evident in the high-profile nature of their legal representatives, with Luke Sayers being represented by renowned lawyer Leon Zwier – who has represented many of Australia’s best known public figures and acted for Brittany Higgins in her defamation case and settlement with the federal government.

Cate Sayers is being represented by Patrick George, a leading defamation lawyer from Giles George, whose law firm partner Rebekah Giles likewise has acted for many prominent public figures in defamation suits.

Leading silk and defamation barrister, Sue Chrysanthou, SC, – who acted for Liberal MP Moira Deeming in her successful defamation suit against ex-Victorian Liberal leader John Pesutto and for Lisa Wilkinson in the Brittany Higgins versus Bruce Lehrmann legal saga – has been briefed to act for Cate Sayers.

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