AFL CHIEF executive Gillon McLachlan has taken a hefty swipe at departing Blue Lachie Henderson, labelling his decision to ask for a trade before the end of the season as "undisciplined".
McLachlan's comments came less than an hour after Melbourne coach Paul Roos flagged a potential 'disaster' for the code.
The Blues parted ways with Henderson on Thursday after the 25-year-old informed the club he would be seeking a trade at the end of the season.
"I really don't like him saying he wants to go somewhere with three rounds to go," McLachlan said on 3AW on Friday morning.
"It's unnecessary, it's undisciplined, and I've just got no idea why people feel the need to do it, I really don't."
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The swingman played 102 games for the Blues and appears bound for Geelong during this year's trade period.
Roos, who saw first hand what happens in the rugby league states, said Henderson's actions sounded a warning for our sport (in the NRL players can agree to join another club next year during the current season).
"Anyone that's followed the NRL, it's farcical, and I think even the NRL understand that, but that once it starts it's hard to wind it back," Roos told reporters on Friday morning.
"We don't want that in our game, categorically.
"We don't want players declaring during the season that they're going to another club.
"It's a really really bad look for the game and it shouldn't happen.
"The public will be up in arms, completely up in arms, about it and outraged by it
"It'll cause enormous angst amongst fans and sponsors and members and coaches and players and it'll be a disaster."
Henderson said his decision to leave was based on achieving success and being happy with how his career panned out.
The out-of-contract Blue expressed his disappointment at not being able to play out the year.
"I would have liked to play it out with the boys but my form probably wasn't good enough to. I respect the decision of the club to do it. I see where they are coming from with it," Henderson told the AFLPA website.
"It is all about moving forward for the club and moving in a positive direction and for me not to be there next year there is no real point me hanging around and that is the decision that was made so I respect that decision."
