I accept that I made an error of judgment in the way I dealt with Lachie Whitfield's personal relationship issues and I have agreed to pay the price for it.

There was no dark intent or other agenda behind what transpired in 2015. I reject any claim or speculation to the contrary.

And the AFL has appropriately acknowledged to me:

Lachie did not miss any test;

Lachie has not been found to have consumed a Prohibited Substance; and

Lachie has not evaded, refused or failed to submit to Sample Collection.

And neither have I.

But I do accept that regardless of my good intentions, I should have handled the issues differently and ensured Lachie continued to meet his off-field "whereabouts" obligations at all times.

I also accept that the club I served then, and the club I serve now, are dealing with the consequences of this matter.

For this, I am sorry.

This is why I have agreed to accept the suspension handed to me today. The legal fight could have gone on, but that is not in the best interests of the game, the AFL, or my family. Recent history tells us as much.

I want Lachie Whitfield and his Giants team-mates to complete their mission. I thank the AFL for the opportunity to help create a football club in a new territory from the ground up. They were wonderful times.

I have today resigned from my position as GM of Football with the Collingwood Football Club.

I want to also thank Eddie McGuire and Gary Pert for the opportunity to return to my football 'home', Collingwood. When I returned earlier this year, after almost 20 years away, I had no sense of what was to unfold. I did not expect that matters would end this way.

I hope that, in time, I can again give to football but understand that, for now, this is notpossible.