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AFL chief executive Gillon McLachlan said he felt for Rutten, who had been in the spotlight all week.

“I think it’s a very difficult and tough industry, at times, and everyone who is under that sort of pressure, which Ben has been, I think we feel for them. I feel for Ben,” McLachlan said on 3AW.

“It happens, it’s an unedifying part of our game and it, obviously, reflects the huge interest - media, public and otherwise - but it’s very difficult for people in those situations and I couldn’t empathise more when it happens.”

McLachlan, while not specifically discussing Essendon, said there often was a better way of handling difficult situations.

“I am not going to comment on the individual situation at hand other than to say, generally, I think there always is. We are always hopefully … you have, obviously, got to make the right decisions for the organisation and the club and, hopefully in that process, we have the wellbeing of the individuals concerned,” he said.

“That’s just a general comment. It’s an industry of good people and people generally do that. But, obviously, we have to make difficult decisions and sometimes it’s always tough.”

Clarkson said on Thursday he felt for Rutten this week and admitted the entire week had been “embarrassing”.

“It’s quite embarrassing to be fair, to be such a central figure in all this,” Clarkson told Nine.

“I’ve got enormous respect for the three guys involved in their clubs ... in particular, the situation with ‘Truck’ [Rutten], he’s still got a year on his contract to run, and it’s quite embarrassing to be the centre of attention in a situation when it’s so difficult for him and his club.”