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AFL chief executive Gillon McLachlan has taken a swipe at Lachie Henderson, labelling the departed Carlton forward's exit "unnecessary and undisciplined".
Henderson, 25, informed the Blues this week that he would not be at the club in 2016, with Carlton subsequently deciding to send Henderson on his way, telling the key position player that he would not be considered for selection for the remainder of the campaign.
McLachlan was stinging in his criticism.
"I really don't like him saying he wants to go somewhere else three rounds to go. It's unnecessary, it's undisciplined, and I've got no idea why people feel the need to do it," McLachlan told 3AW on Friday morning.
While Melbourne coach Paul Roos said that Henderson's early exit from the Blues is "a window into the future," he too lamented the situation.There had been immense speculation for months that Henderson would be leaving the Blues at season's end, with a move to Geelong, near his home town Birregurra the widely tipped outcome.
Despite tipping that clubs would continue to overlook players whose futures lay elsewhere, Roos said he didn't want an NRL style free-for-all.
"We don't want players declaring halfway through the season that they want to go to another club. It wouldn't be a good look for the game," Roos said on Friday morning.
"What Carlton have done is a bit of a window into the future. You don't want to play someone who doesn't want to be there."
Roos said the situation at the the Blues differed to that of the Demons, when defender James Frawley went to Hawthorn at season's end as a free agent. Roos said that whereas Henderson had told Carlton that he no longer wished to remain at the club, Frawley - who was similarly predicted to leave - had remained engaged throughout 2014. As such, Frawley remained a senior regular until the end of his final campaign at Melbourne.
Roos said that there were no shortage of incentives for any player to play well late in the season regardless of his team's circumstances, one of which he said is the chance to impress potential suitors.
While Roos opined about some of the game-wide issues, he is aware there are plenty of internal concerns at the 6-13 Demons, who last Sunday were annihilated by the Western Bulldogs by 98 points. Ahead of Sunday's clash against Carlton, Roos said Melbourne had to "reset".
"What we dished up last week was unacceptable and I think that's why fans get frustrated," he said.
"Clearly last week [the team] looked liked they'd sort of switched off and were on their end-of-season footy trip."
Roos reiterated that he would be open to continuing at the club in 2017 once coach-in-waiting Simon Goodwin takes the helm.
Also asked how the AFL should spend its $2.5 billion broadcasting rights bonanza, Roos said the league needed to put funds into feeder leagues.