Phil Gould's reality check amid fury over leaked image of Bulldogs meeting

Phil Gould's crusade to "out" the photographer who snapped him meeting with former club captain Raymond Faitala-Mariner at Canterbury Leagues Club could turn into a negative. Gus indicated the photographer, whose picture was published by The Daily Telegraph, could be headed for hot water after CCTV footage identified him.

Gould, in his role as Canterbury football club boss, was with Faitala-Mariner and player manager Ernesto Santone to discuss the tearaway forward's future amid reports he's on the outer after questioning coach Cameron Ciraldo's training regime. "A photo was taken of me yesterday, in a meeting at Canterbury Leagues Club, and sent to the media for publication," Gould posted on X.

'GET ON BOARD': David Fifita at centre of warning over Titans contract saga

BRAVE MOVE: Latrell Mitchell in Rabbitohs return days after personal tragedy

IN DOUBT: Incredible Storm record in jeopardy as draw for 2024 season released

"I never care about these things, however, the club is rightfully unimpressed. Leagues Club CCTV has recorded the person responsible. He has now been identified. I am told that he is a professional photographer. I have an image of him, and we also have his name.

"Again, these things never worry me. But I just wonder why a professional photographer happened to be at that particular venue, at that time of day, in a very quiet lounge of the club, and prepared to take the photo that he did? I find it hilarious."

Lawyer's truth bomb for Phil Gould

Yahoo Sport Australia spoke to Michael Bradley – managing partner at Marque Lawyers - to clarify the privacy laws around photography. And sorry to break it to you, Gus, but this is one fight you’re unlikely to win.

Bradley said: "If the photographer was on private property when he took the photo he may have been trespassing, although that depends on the particular circumstances. That doesn’t make his taking of the photo itself an illegal act.

"This photo was taken in a public space - sure it was on private property - but not in an area where nobody should reasonably expect not to be seen. The photographer wasn’t trespassing.

"There’s no law against taking photographs without the subject's consent. The legal theory is if a person has a reasonable expectation of personal privacy, and another person invades it – for example, by taking a photo through a bathroom window in a private home – then they can sue over it.

"I can’t see it being applicable to the situation you’ve described. The fact that the people involved didn’t want their meeting to be known, or might have been embarrassed by it being revealed, doesn't make it unlawful or actionable. Short answer – it's a storm in a teacup."

Sign up to our newsletter and score the biggest sport stories of the week.