Fallout of Blues blueing

Carlton director quits

A bust-up in the Carlton rooms after Friday night’s loss to Sydney between president Luke Sayers and director Craig Mathieson has led to Mathieson quitting the board.

Mathieson was openly vocal in the rooms about his anger after yet another loss, which prompted Sayers to step in.

Sayers (pictured) told Mathieson there was a time and place to express his opinion, and in the rooms postmatch wasn’t it.

The confrontation was seen by fellow directors as well as family and friends of players.

It’s understood the players were in a meeting and did not see the incident.

Mathieson quit at the weekend and his resignation was accepted by the Carlton board.

Mathieson is the nephew of club powerbroker Bruce Matheison, who launched an attack on the club’s management failings two weeks ago.

Bruce Mathieson said on May 14: “Put it this way, I will never, ever go out of my way to help Carlton again while any of these people are still in power”.

Asked about whether the club might try to cut ties with the lucrative poker machine licences he has gifted the club, Mathieson said: “They possibly will try because they are complete and utter imbeciles.”

Bruce Mathieson also said at the time: “Luke Sayers is the president – he’s the boss and should take full responsibility for all of it.

“He’s the bloke who is supposed to bring home the bacon.”

With Carlton’s season on the brink there were reports on Monday that Sayers was preparing to head to Italy for a holiday.

The reports in Nine Media say he will celebrate his wife Cate’s 50th Birthday while in Europe.

Carlton is now 13th on the ladder despite Sayers declaring the club would play finals this season. The Blues face Melbourne on Friday night at the MCG.

Carlton confirmed Mathieson’s resignation in a statement released on Monday morning.

“We accept Craig’s decision to resign from his role as a club director and thank him for all he has contributed to the Blues across 11 years of service,” Sayers said.

Sayers also wrote a letter to members insisting he’d be at the MCG on Friday night.

“We will judge our 2023 season at the end of the year, in its totality.

“Football clubs are defined by their moments of adversity and I can guarantee we will handle ours with a level-headed professionalism that Carlton people should expect.

“Take care of yourselves and each other this week Bluebaggers.

“I can’t wait to be with you at the ‘G on Friday night.”