Carlton’s turbulent AFL season has taken another turn for the worse, with longtime board director Craig Mathieson stepping down following a reported’verbal altercation’ with club president Luke Sayers following their round 11 loss to Sydney. The Blues are in severe danger of sliding out of the finals race at the halfway stage of the season, as their loss against the Swans was their fourth in a straight, bringing the club to 13th on the table.
Mathieson has been director since 2012, with his 11-year term ending a year before his 12-year term was completed. Sayers apparently stepped in when Mathieson got loud in the Blues locker room following the 26-point loss.
The players were apparently in a meeting at the time of the confrontation and did not observe anything, although it did take place in front of friends and family. According to Channel 7 reporter Tom Browne, Sayers thought Mathieson’s passionate remark was “below professional standards of what is expected,” which led to his departure.
The Blues published a statement shortly after the news surfaced on Monday, announcing Mathieson’s departure with immediate effect. Due to term constraints for his position, Mathieson would have stood down as director at the end of 2024 regardless of the club’s constitution.
“The Carlton Football Club has accepted the resignation of Director Craig Mathieson, who has served on the Carlton Board since 2012,” said the statement. “Mathieson decided to resign after 11 years as a director, overseeing the Club’s financial and audit responsibilities.”
“Mathieson’s position as a Director would have become vacant at the end of 2024 as a result of him reaching his maximum term under the constitution, and the Club will be able to fill the vacancy.”
