FORMER chief football writer of The Age Caroline Wilson has delivered a pointed, savage assessment of AFL chief executive Gillon McLachlan’s past week.

Wilson took aim at McLachlan for last week flagging potential rule trial games this season then backtracking on his comments, as well as “an open joke” of an AFL fixture.

In an SEN interview, McLachlan suggested the AFL could use the last five rounds to trial rules in games involving teams who are out of the finals race.

LIVE Stream every match of every round of the 2018 Toyota AFL Premiership Season. SIGN UP NOW >

Finals Week 1

But that immediately raised integrity issues, particularly around areas such as the draft and Brownlow Medal voting. AFL legend Leigh Matthews, one of the game’s most respected figures, led the charge against the idea.

Two days later, McLachlan backed down quickly from trialling new rules in dead-rubber AFL matches after heated backlash.

Wilson slammed McLachlan for hijacking “Steve Hocking’s agenda” then backtracking on his words.

“Gillon McLachlan’s stated intent to experiment with new rules in certain home and away games hijacked the competition debate, horrified supporters, insulted the bottom clubs and also horrified Hall of Famers,” Wilson told Channel 9’s Footy Classified.

LISTEN TO THE LATEST EPISODE OF THE FOX FOOTY PODCAST BELOW, OR TAP HERE TO SUBSCRIBE IN ITUNES

“How dare the competition’s governors consider some games meaningless. It also hijacked Steve Hocking’s agenda and apparently left the AFL leaderless, indecisive and condescending.

“Then Gillon backtracked two days later.”

Wilson then took aim at the AFL fixture, particularly around the scheduling of Sunday’s match between the Western Bulldogs and Port Adelaide in Ballarat and the fact the game finished in very dark light.

The AFL brought in extra lighting, but the weather and the later start time of 3.20pm made for trying conditions.

“Then the AFL capped off the weekend in the dark and cold of Ballarat — a dreaded 3.20pm game without adequate lighting or public transport home,” Wilson said.

Get the ultimate AFL experience on your phone with the new FOX FOOTY App. Download it NOW for FREE on iOS and Android!

“The fixture has become an open joke at AFL headquarters and I see they’re burying another (Adelaide) Showdown in the twilight (timeslot) this Saturday.

“Gillon, we’ve all had bad weeks — heaven knows I’ve had plenty — but if you were a government and you were leading your team into the polls on Super Saturday, you would’ve been beaten badly.”