WAG wins payout and apology from AFL club over false claims
Former AFL star Steven May's partner has secured a payout and public apology from the Melbourne Demons after launching a lawsuit accusing the club of leaking false claims about her.
Sachi Dade took legal action against Melbourne, senior coach Steven King and football boss Alan Richardson after alleging the club invaded her privacy during a Microsoft Teams meeting with players' partners in February, which came after police conducted a welfare check at her home.
On Monday night, Melbourne confirmed the dispute had been resolved, with the club acknowledging its leadership team had acted inappropriately by revealing personal information about Dade.
The settlement brings to an end a case that had been due to return to court in September.
In a statement released by the club, Melbourne admitted mistakes had been made.
'In February 2026, the Melbourne Football Club leadership team divulged personal and sensitive information about Ms Dade,' the statement said.
Sachi Dade (pictured with partner Steven May and their daughter Millie) secured a financial settlement and public apology after suing Melbourne over alleged privacy breaches and false claims leaks
Melbourne admitted sharing Dade's personal information was inappropriate and apologised for the hurt, distress and impact on her family
'We acknowledge that this was inappropriate and constituted a serious invasion of her privacy.
'Ms Dade raised concerns about the conduct of MFC and its leadership team and advocated for change and for training.
'Our senior leaders, including the Board, the incoming CEO and our leaders in the football department, are committed to taking all steps necessary to ensure this does not happen again.
'We sincerely apologise to Ms Dade and her family for the hurt, distress and impact our actions have caused.'
The apology was signed by incoming chief executive Dan Taylor on behalf of the Melbourne Football Club.
Dade's lawsuit alleged the club disclosed private information during a February 5 meeting involving the partners of 15 Melbourne players, held one week after Victoria Police conducted a welfare check at the home she shared with May.
No arrests were made, no charges were laid and the matter was resolved following the police attending the property.
Court documents alleged the club's actions caused Dade emotional distress, embarrassment, psychiatric harm and public humiliation.
The lawsuit centred on a Microsoft Teams meeting where Melbourne officials discussed sensitive information with players' partners in February (Dade and May are pictured at the Brownlow Medal ceremony)
The legal dispute ended before a scheduled September court hearing after Melbourne reached a financial settlement with Dade this week
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She also claimed Melbourne shared false information about her with players' partners and failed to seek her version of events before discussing the matter.
According to the court filings, Dade alleged the club committed three separate privacy breaches by publicly referring to the police welfare check, providing sensitive information to the AFL, and discussing confidential matters during the Teams meeting.
She also alleged a Melbourne board member contacted May's legal representatives in an attempt to pressure her.
The documents further claimed that Melbourne representatives acknowledged the information being discussed was private and sensitive, asked attendees not to repeat it and admitted they were not aware of all the facts surrounding the incidents.
The apology follows earlier criticism from within the club over the handling of the meeting.
Demons president Steve Smith previously described holding the meeting as a mistake, while King also conceded the club got the situation wrong.
'We had good intent, but if we had our time again, I think we would acknowledge that was a mistake and we probably shouldn't have done that,' King said.
Asked whether he planned to contact Dade personally after the settlement, King replied: 'I'll wait and see what the club want us to do from that point of view, but it's been settled now so we'll just move forward.'
May, who helped Melbourne end its 57-year premiership drought in 2021, retired before the start of the 2026 season after reaching a financial settlement with the Demons despite having a year remaining on his contract.
Badenoch blasts 'moaning' female Labour MPs over Burnham jobs 'quota'
Kemi Badenoch has told Labour women to earn a job in Andy Burnham's Cabinet instead of demanding they are handed jobs because of their gender.
The Tory leader lashed out today amid reports that female MPs are demanding the de-facto new prime minister introduce a 50:50 gender split 'quota' in his government.
Amid reports that former foreign secretary David Miliband is being lined up to return to the role, possibly with his brother Ed as Chancellor, one female minister also complained that Burnham could not have 'more Milibands than women' in the top posts.
But in a scathing article in the Times today Mrs Badenoch told them to 'stop moaning' and get chosen on merit instead of retreating into 'more of the failed identity politics that is holding back our country'.
'There are many, many reasons why you shouldn't have any Milibands in the cabinet,' she said.
'But complaining that the boys haven't given them the right jobs or that the boys are taking all the jobs, just shows that Labour's women still don't get it.'
The idea of quotas was also attacked by Baroness Jacqui Smith, Labour's Skills Minister.
Asked by Times Radio if Mr Burnham should reserve jobs for women, she said: 'No, I think what Andy Burnham should be doing is building the very best team around him to change this country.'
A letter written by the Women's Parliamentary Labour Party has called on Mr Burnham to ensure a 50:50 split between men and women in government jobs
Amid reports that former foreign secretary David Miliband (above, right, in 2010) is being lined up to return to the role, possibly with his brother Ed as Chancellor, one female minister complained that Burnham could not have 'more Milibands than women' in the top posts
But Mrs Badenoch told them to pipe down and get chosen on merit instead of retreating into 'more of the failed identity politics that is holding back our country'
A letter written by the Women's Parliamentary Labour Party and seen by the BBC has called on Mr Burnham to ensure a 50:50 split between men and women in government jobs after he succeeds Sir Keir Starmer.
'We are asking you to demonstrate this change from day one and address the toxicity and misogyny within our own party and government,' it said.
Labour has never had a female leader, while the Conservatives have had three, and Mrs Badenoch urged the government to follow its meritocratic example.
'If you run a meritocracy, then you do not have to worry about jobs for the boys,' she wrote.
'Every woman who is a Conservative MP, every woman who has ever won the leadership, has had to fight to get where she is.
'By contrast, Labour women are demanding guarantees from Burnham. But the truth is he doesn't have to give any guarantees.
'If none of Labour's women are prepared to get their hands dirty and challenge him for the leadership, their demands are toothless.'
'In fact, it's quite revealing that the women's parliamentary Labour Party has written to Burnham asking him to commit himself to at least 50 per cent female ministers.
'This has nothing to do with meritocracy. It is yet more of the failed identity politics that is holding back our country.'
