The AFL players' union has expressed concern about the precedent created by Carlton's groundbreaking decision to have Lachie Henderson sit out the remainder of the season as the departing Blue called for more honesty on trades.
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Henderson appears Geelong-bound after telling the Blues he wanted out late on Tuesday - a request that prompted Carlton to sit the key position player out for the last three games. This was partly to avoid the risk of injury that might hurt Henderson's future and the club's trade return.
As Henderson said the pursuit of happiness and football success prompted him to leave, the AFLPA's player relations boss Ian Predergast said while the union supported his departure, given the decision appeared to have been made in the best interests of both club and player, he warned clubs against cutting players loose in future when they indicated a desire to leave.
Henderson emptied his locker, addressed his teammates and left the club for good on Thursday morning.
Prendergast was kept abreast of the developments - virtually unheard of in AFL football - through Henderson's manager, Tom Petroro, on Wednesday. The AFLPA was reassured that the player himself was comfortable with the exceptional circumstances around the immediate severing of ties on Thursday morning.
"I'm comfortable that the decision was made in the best interests of not only the club, but also him in these circumstances," Prendergast said.
"Having said that, we wouldn't like to see a situation where the expectation is that a player does notify a club like this, and then the club doesn't play a player for the remainder of the year if he has indicated that he's going to look for a trade or a move through free agency. Because at the end of the day these players are elite athletes and they're contracted for a period of time and they should be selected based on merit for the time of that contract."
Asked whether the AFLPA was comfortable with Henderson's situation only because Henderson himself was satisfied with it, Prendergast said: "Absolutely".
It's expected Henderson will be paid by Carlton for the remainder of the season, though he will no longer train with the team or be required to carry out any further duties for the Stephen Trigg, Mark LoGuidice-run club.
In announcing their version of events, Carlton referred to the decision being made "in consultation with our playing leadership group", a reference considered distasteful by some, including at the AFLPA.
To confidants, Henderson had at times this year been seen to be deeply burdened as he grappled with his footballing future at a club that has been a competition basket case. Carlton has faced the fact that fans and members have deserted it, and now a highly talented player has effectively walked.
As Geelong confirmed to Fairfax Media that it is interested in acquiring the out-of-contract Henderson, sources confirmed that Carlton's unusual step of withdrawing him for the remaining games had two main motivations.
First, the Blues believed it was in no one's best interests for Henderson, who has been playing below par recently, to get injured — since this would potentially hurt his deal with his new club, and also Carlton's return in any trade.
The second factor was the Blues' view that it was better to invest time in players who would be at the club next year. If Henderson was leaving, the Blues felt there was little point in him playing — and obviously Carlton are not competing for finals.
Carlton have been trying to sign Henderson, 25, this year. The Blues want the best possible draft return for him, and any deal with the Cats appears likely to involve a first-round pick.
Henderson, who is from Birregurra near Geelong, has been in the Cats' sights throughout 2015, but he insisted he did not know where he would be playing next.
