• AFL gives Whitfield a six-month ban
• We're not at fault, says Giants
GRAEME Allan has resigned as director of football at Collingwood after being suspended for 12 months for bringing the game into disrepute.
The 62-year-old accepted the AFL sanctions and conceded he had made an error of judgment in the way he dealt with Lachie Whitfield's circumstance.
Allan said he erred in not ensuring Whitfield met his off-field "whereabouts" obligations as required under the AFL Anti-Doping Code and apologised for the difficulties created for the Giants and the Magpies as a result.
Allan apologised for his actions in a statement.
"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," Allan said.
"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."
• COMMENT: Do WADA rules fit our game?
Allan returned to Collingwood midway through 2016 to manage the introduction of the club's netball and women's football team.
At the end of the season he was appointed director of football at Collingwood in September despite news breaking that an AFL investigation was taking place.
The decision was made without senior coach Nathan Buckley's knowledge and former football director Neil Balme subsequently decided to accept a job as Richmond's head of football.
Allan was banned as a result of advising Whitfield to stay at player welfare manager Craig Lambert's house due to the star midfielder's fear he may fail a drug test if he was tested.
Although there was no suggestion that Whitfield missed a drug test, consumed a prohibited substance or evaded, refused or failed to submit a sample collection, Allan decided not to contest the sanctions.
Allan played 141 games for Fitzroy and Collingwood before being a football manager when Collingwood won the drought-breaking 1990 flag. He moved to the Brisbane Lions as a key lieutenant to Leigh Matthews who coached the Lions to three consecutive flags.
Allan was then responsible for building the Giants list, which reached a preliminary final in just its fourth year in the AFL before returning to Collingwood.
The Magpies announced they had appointed Marcus Wagner as football operations manager on an interim basis.
Wagner has been at Collingwood for nine years.
