THE FINAL decision was made late Sunday night, and conveyed to Brendon Bolton Monday morning.
Carlton president Mark LoGiudice, CEO Cain Liddle and head of football Brad Lloyd met Bolton and his manager Tom Petroro, at Petroro's inner city home about 11am.
An understandably sombre and at-times sad and cold 30 minutes followed Liddle telling Bolton his Blues coaching tenure would be stopped after 61 losses from 77 matches.
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The grand plans that all men had on this venture had ultimately crashed and failed, and all that was left after the news had been relayed was for Petroro to negotiate a financial settlement.
LoGiudice and his board made formal their decision to sack Bolton in a series of phone calls late Sunday.
That afternoon's dreadful loss to Essendon was ultimately the breaking-point moment, but for at least five weeks, the powerbrokers at the club had begun getting their heads around parting with their coach.
Monday's announcement was an emotional time for Brendon Bolton. Picture: AFL Photos
The decision was effectively made for them, with Bolton able to secure just four wins from his past 43 attempts.
There wasn't one specific match or performance which nailed Bolton, simply an accumulation of defeats which was probably not acted on early enough, and which pushed this club into yet another phase of helplessness.
This year's round seven defeat by North Melbourne was horrific.
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The following week's 19-point loss to Collingwood, which came after the Blues led by 11 points at the 21-minute mark of the final quarter, was assessed equally damningly, for it was yet another example of the team failing to seize opportunity.
Then came a 93-point mauling by GWS, then St Kilda won the only game of its past six against it in round 10, then the Bombers buried them on a sloppy MCG.
After his meeting with LoGiudice, Liddle and Lloyd, Bolton travelled with Petroro to Carlton's headquarters, where he addressed his players in the early afternoon.
The Blues show the strain as they leave the field after the round 11 loss to Essendon. Picture: AFL Photos
Bolton has a special relationship with the Blues' two captains, Patrick Cripps and the injured Sam Docherty, and he emotionally briefed them before talking to the group.
LoGiudice has been on the Carlton board since early 2010, and as a Blues director he has been party to the sacking of three coaches – Brett Ratten, Mick Malthouse and Bolton.
The Malthouse and Bolton axings have come under his watch as president, which he began in June 2014.
It's possible Bolton had an inkling of what was coming. Picture: AFL Photos
That's some ruthless culling under his control, and surely as a result of the club not being able to find the right replacements, he must now reconsider his own position.
Bolton is unlikely to get another opportunity as an AFL senior coach, for the AFL industry is unfortunately loath to give second opportunities to people who are seen to have failed.
It's been an eventful first few months of AFL football for Sam Walsh. Picture: AFL Photos
His proper calling at the highest level of the game may, though, be as a senior assistant coach anyway, and he is a certainty to assume such a role next year.
He has a very close relationship with Brisbane coach Chris Fagan, and it would not surprise to see him at the Lions from 2020.
Twitter: @barrettdamian
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