Fake AI-generated social media posts target AFL players and clubs
Facebook pages are posting fabricated videos and stories about Australian Football League figures. The content often includes false claims about players, coaches, and their families. Multiple clubs have reported the material to Meta.
The Sydney Morning HeraldThe posts frequently attach sensational claims to well-known names to increase engagement. One video showed former coaches Brad Scott and Michael Voss dancing in Ibiza. Another claimed Nick Daicos spent $2 million on a homeless shelter. A third asserted that Dustin Martin sponsored surgery for conjoined twins.
Reports of harm to individuals and families A page posted that former Footscray ruckman Gary Dempsey had died. Dempsey told News Corp last month that relatives received calls and became upset. "I am still driving tractors, chasing cattle and cutting down trees, so I am still alive," he said.
The Western Bulldogs said false posts have included imagery of relatives and claims of serious illness. A club spokesperson stated the material has caused significant concern. One club legend contacted the team to confirm he was alive after similar reports.
Club and platform responses Brisbane Lions posted on April 30 urging fans to verify information after false stories appeared about its players. The club said some posts referenced real events but wrongly involved its playing group. A Collingwood page and a Richmond page have also circulated fabricated content.
Chris Michaels, a Richmond podcast host, said one page produced entirely AI-generated material that some users believed. Meta stated it uses automated systems and manual enforcement against inauthentic behavior aimed at misleading users about content popularity or page identity.
One club required 15 staff reports before a page was removed, after which similar pages reappeared.
