It was not supposed to end like this for Gillon McLachlan.
The outgoing AFL chief executive had hoped he would be able to ride off into the sunset to a chorus of platitudes and praise, with the parting gift of a $4.5 billion broadcast deal to ensure his legacy as one of the league's greatest custodians.
And while his ability to maximise the monetary value of the league to ensure its health and robustness for the long-term future, especially after the very real threat that the pandemic posed, cannot be denied, what also is undeniable is that as he prepares to depart, a quarter of the AFL building is on fire.
As it stands, those flames are engulfing five clubs simultaneously.
Hawthorn's damning racism report took out three clubs in one fell swoop as it not only left the Hawks facing an AFL investigation, but also rendered North Melbourne and the Brisbane Lions rudderless for the foreseeable future.
With the latter clubs' coaches Alastair Clarkson and Chris Fagan respectively named as central figures to the disturbing allegations during their time at Waverley Park, both men have had to stand aside until the investigation runs its full course.
In Clarkson's case, he wasn't due to begin work in an official capacity until November 1, having only been appointed by the Kangaroos two months ago, but there's little chance of the investigation being completed by then.
It must be stressed, that both Clarkson and Fagan deny the allegations levelled at them in the ABC's exclusive report last month.
Not content with letting other clubs hog all the bad headlines, Essendon decided it was their turn to do what they do best and remind these Johnny-come-latelies who the true kings of turmoil of the past decade are.
Just as it looked like things were finally starting to look on track for the Bombers, after they announced they had hired Brad Scott as their new coach two weeks ago, they reverted to type with the farcical appointment of CEO Andrew Thorburn, which only lasted one day.
It became clear shortly after Thorburn was appointed that he wouldn't be able to both helm the Bombers and retain his position as chairman of a conservative Christian church, whose values didn't align with those of Essendon's.
When given an ultimatum, Thorburn spurned the Dons and stuck with his church. Another black eye for the Bombers.
But forget his religious views on same-sex marriage and abortion, how did Thorburn get the gig after his tenure as NAB chief executive ended in disgrace after a damning Royal Commission revealed he had overseen one of the biggest governance failures in Australian corporate history?
Surely that alone would've been enough for Essendon to steer clear of him, not to mention the fact he oversaw the review of the club's football department, before throwing his hat into the ring to replace Xavier Campbell as CEO and, lo and behold, securing the position.
Predictably, the glaring lack of due diligence has led to murmurings of yet another board challenge at Tullamarine, just two months after David Barham wrested the presidency from Paul Brasher, with more instability potentially on the horizon for the beleaguered club.
And thus brings us to St Kilda, who find themselves on the receiving end of widespread ridicule for overseeing a similarly shambolic process that led to now-former coach Brett Ratten being re-signed in July.
It might not have been as bad as Thorburn's one-day tenure at the Bombers, but for Ratten to be given his marching orders just 98 days after penning a brand-new two-year deal is nothing short of farcical, and epitomises the Saints' 150 years of ineptness which has only yielded one grand final win by one point and a record 27 wooden spoons.
In fact, the legendary Allan Jeans is the only St Kilda coach to have seen out at least six full seasons in the job.
Brasher and Campbell lost their roles at Essendon for orchestrating and backing the ultimately failed coaching handover between John Worsfold and Ben Rutten, so St Kilda CEO Simon Lethlean and president Andrew Bassat would consider themselves very fortunate to retain their gigs after the shambolic re-signing and firing of Ratten.
And while new safeguards are embedded in coaching contracts these days to save clubs exorbitant payouts, the fact that the Saints, one of the most debt-ridden clubs in the league, have essentially flushed another fistful of shekels down the drain is frankly galling.
It has been an embarrassing couple of months for the AFL, with many key decision-makers within some of their biggest clubs looking downright amateurish.
And the fact it has all happened on McLachlan's watch invariably takes the shine off his farewell tour.
Indeed, he has not ruled out extending his stay in the role as league chief until the Hawthorn racism investigation is completed.
Many great things have occurred under McLachlan's tenure over the past eight years, with concussion protocols beefed up, the advent of the AFLW, the exploding value of the broadcast rights, two seasons incredibly completed during the pandemic against all odds and the purchasing of Marvel Stadium which proved critical as the league navigated the rough seas of the COVID pandemic.
But it hasn't been all roses in the McLachlan era with racism still a hot-button issue, grass roots footy clubs being neglected in many parts of the country, the dithering and dragging of feet regarding the Tasmanian team, the “behavioural awareness officers” monitoring fan behaviour during 2019 like secret police, the complete and utter waste of money on the ridiculous AFLX concept and the horrid “fan engagement” which continues to get worse and worse each year at grounds around the country.
And now five clubs find themselves in varying degrees of crisis.
It's hard to remember so many clubs stricken for a variety of reasons at the same time.
How will history remember McLachlan? If you were a betting man, you'd say favourably, but the epilogue and post-script to his time in charge will certainly ensure it will end on a sour note.
