AFL EXECUTIVES Simon Lethlean and Richard Simkiss have resigned, effective immediately, after they had "inappropriate relationships" with younger women from the AFL industry.
AFL CEO Gillon McLachlan said the pair offered their resignations after taking responsibility for their mistakes and those resignations had been accepted.
"We are being clear about what we stand for as an organisation," McLachlan said at a media conference on Friday.
• 'A very difficult time': Gillon McLachlan's statement
• I failed my wife, my family: Lethlean apologises
• Read Simon Lethlean's full statement
• Read Richard Simkiss' full statement
Lethlean was the AFL's football operations manager, and his day-to-day responsibilities for the AFL competition will be taken over by general counsel Andrew Dillon on an interim basis.
Commercial responsibilities will be assumed by the AFL's head of commercial operations, Darren Birch.
The latest turmoil at League headquarters follows last week's exit of diversity manager Ali Fahour, who was banned from local football for life after receiving a 14-week suspension for striking.
McLachlan said it was commendable that Lethlean and Simkiss had accepted the consequences and resigned, but he admitted to being disappointed in the pair's actions.
"There were two men on my senior executive team who had inappropriate relationships with two younger women who work in the AFL industry," McLachlan said.
He said the AFL had a responsibility to act once it became aware of the facts.
"There are expectations and people expect them to be upheld," McLachlan said.
The CEO said the AFL was continuing down a path of change and Friday's decision was a sign that such issues would be dealt with when they arised.
"We have addressed the issues strongly today and we will continue to make change because it is a journey and we are not where we want to be yet," McLachlan said.
Lethlean oversaw the successful launch of the AFL Women's Competition at the beginning of the season and then became football operations manager on March 2.
Simkiss was promoted to his executive position at the same time.
Staff at AFL House were told of the news on Friday morning.
McLachlan has been a champion of change relating to women's role in the workplace.
The CEO said he hoped the decision would show women who wanted to work in the AFL industry the direction the organisation was heading.
"[I] hope they look to today and look to an organisation that takes hard decisions and that it is an organisation they want to work for," McLachlan said.
"The standards are there. Everyone knows what they are. People have made two significant mistakes and they have been held to account."
Lethlean apologised for his actions in a statement saying the relationship should never have happened and as a husband and leader within the AFL, he had a responsibility.
"I failed my wife, my family, my friends, my organisation and football by making the decision I have," Lethlean said.
"I have hurt the people who are most important in my life and who I love. They have done nothing to deserve this. I am deeply sorry for all the hurt and embarrassment I have caused.
"My priority now is to do everything I can to repair the damage and hurt I have caused my wife and my family and I cannot do this while working in this public role. Regaining the trust and love of my wife and my family will be my total focus."
McLachlan said Dillon would act in the football operations role until a replacement was found, declaring that the AFL would look to make an external appointment to fill the position.
However, no deadline on the replacement being found has been set.
McLachlan said the League would feel the effects of the decision but it was resilient.
"The last 24 hours has been pretty tough," he said.
"I'm proud of our team and our culture. I'm clearly disappointed in the last week."
Gillon McLachlan faces the media on Friday. Picture: AFL Photos
Gillon McLachlan's full statement
The AFL that I want to lead is a professional organisation based on integrity, respect, care for each other and responsibility.
We are committed to a process of change, and I am confident that that change is being seen and felt across our industry.
Last night, I have accepted the resignation of GM Football, Simon Lethlean and GM Commercial, Richard Simkiss.
This has occurred following issues that have fully come to light over the past few days.
They were quite separate matters, but have caused distress and concern to a number of people.
Simon and Richard have both been honest and forthright to me, and to their credit owned their mistakes and do not want the work of the AFL to be impacted by their actions.
I expect that my Executives are role models and set a standard of behaviour for the rest of the organisation.
They are judged, as they should be, to a higher standard.
Many would ask why, but it is imperative for the way I lead and for our organisation to continue to change.
I want a diverse and inclusive culture – where employees are treated respectfully, fairly and represented at all levels. It is what we have been working so hard to achieve.
The journey we are on to a more equal and respectful workplace must be more than just words - it must be backed up with action and change.
We have come a long way.
Today, I have appointed Andrew Dillon, Legal Counsel and GM Game Development as acting GM Football. Darren Birch, our GM Growth, Digital and Audiences will be acting GM Commercial, a position he previously held.
These are both workplace and personal matters. As CEO, I am dealing with the workplace issues, and can I please ask that the people involved are allowed to deal with the personal and family matters out of the public sphere. The senior leaders in our game sign up for public scrutiny, but families and others in our business do not, and I ask for their privacy to be respected.
This has been a very difficult time, but as CEO, I had to accept the resignations.
This weekend, our 18 clubs will again take the field, and everyone who works in our industry must not forget that the game, our fans, our clubs and our people are our first and last responsibility.
