AFL star sorry for naked pic of team-mate

St Kilda defender Sam Gilbert has apologised after two nude photographs he took on holiday were published on the internet and left three Aussie Rules team-mates deeply embarrassed.

The photo, which was posted by a teenage girl on Facebook, showed Saints skipper Nick Riewoldt naked and Zac Dawson semi-clothed, with another showing Nick Dal Santo in a compromising position.

The girl claims to have more images of AFL players, team-mates of former Kerry footballer Tommy Walsh, and is threatening to release them, while Riewoldt insisted he had never met the girl nor had he granted permission for the photo to be kept.

Riewoldt professed his innocence in front of the media and claimed Gilbert took the photos on an off-season trip to Miami before instructing his team-mate immediately to delete them.

Responsibility

Gilbert released a statement on Tuesday afternoon accepting full responsibility for the photo.

"I confirm emphatically that the photo was taken by myself and taken in Nick's hotel room in Miami while on holidays," Gilbert's statement read.

"I can also confirm the pictures posted on Facebook were taken from my computer and that is currently subject to discussion with Victoria Police.

"I would also like to take this opportunity to offer my public apologies to the players for the distress this may have caused."

The girl claims to have met Riewoldt but this has been denied by both Gilbert and the Saints captain.

"In this particular case there has been a significant breach of privacy," Gilbert said.

The AFL Players' Association (AFLPA), meanwhile, is calling for a change to privacy laws in the wake of the scandal.

AFLPA chief executive Matt Finnis wants laws introduced to protect the privacy of players and other members of the community.

"I'd like to see a greater understanding of what can be the damage when people don't respect the privacy of high-profile people," he said.