Former Carlton Football Club president Luke Sayers is reportedly nearing a settlement in his ongoing defamation dispute with his ex-wife, Cate Sayers, surrounding the controversial posting of a nude image on his social media account earlier this year.

The legal conflict stems from a photograph of Mr Sayers’ genitalia that was posted on his X account on January 8, 2025, while both parties were vacationing in Italy. The image, which was tagged to a senior Bupa staff member involved in the insurer’s sponsorship of Carlton, was deleted after 13 minutes but had already been widely circulated through screenshots.

Mr Sayers maintained he was the victim of hacking, stating he was “in the shower” when the image was posted and pledging to thoroughly investigate the incident. An AFL Integrity Unit inquiry subsequently cleared him of any breach of league rules, concluding that his account had been compromised. However, the investigation did not involve an interview with Ms Sayers, despite considering her a relevant individual in their probe.

In response, Ms Sayers initiated a defamation lawsuit, alleging that Mr Sayers falsely implicated her by submitting a statutory declaration to AFL officials asserting she accessed his account and was responsible for posting the image. She has sought to clear her name and restore her reputation through the legal action.

The dispute, which was due to be heard over a seven-day trial scheduled for November in the Victorian Supreme Court, seemed poised to become more public following a court ruling two months ago that denied Mr Sayers’ attempt to hold the proceedings privately. This potential exposure raised concerns within AFL leadership, including CEO Andrew Dillon and former Carlton communications director Sharon McCrohan, given the league’s recent reputational challenges such as the Geelong concussion and Sydney Swans sponsorship controversies.

Sources indicate that after months of deadlock, Mr Sayers’ legal team, led by prominent lawyer Leon Zwier, has agreed to enter settlement discussions with Ms Sayers, who has insisted that any resolution include a formal apology. Reports suggest that a settlement statement could be released imminently, potentially as early as Monday.

Despite the legal turmoil, Mr Sayers has remained visible in public settings, attending recent AFL events such as the Million Dollar Lunch at Crown with his new partner Alexandra Elms, and the Blues’ Wildcard victory at the Melbourne Cricket Ground. Plans are reportedly underway for Mr Sayers to travel to Italy soon, reportedly to avoid further media scrutiny.

The settlement is expected to bring a resolution to a protracted and high-profile dispute that has attracted significant media attention, amid growing pressure on both sides to end the controversy.