Cricket Australia high performance boss Pat Howard says Brad Haddin was put on notice prior to the Ashes and players understood that form was behind the 37-year-old's dumping as Test keeper.
Haddin missed the second Test to spend time with his daughter in a London hospital.
National selectors opted to retain Peter Nevill for the next three Tests, effectively ending Haddin's international career.
Coach Darren Lehmann noted it was based on Haddin's poor form with the bat since the 2013-14 Ashes, describing it as the hardest cricket decision he's made.
Ricky Ponting and Shane Warne were among a handful of vocal former players critical of the contentious call.
"You don't have to agree or disagree," Howard said, when asked if current players were unhappy with the way it was handled.
"That's fine. But understand, that's all you can ask.
"I understand the emotional connection with Hadds.
"He's a really good bloke, a really good cornerstone of the side.
"You also understand ... why they dropped him."
Shane Watson and Haddin both played the opening Test but none of the next four.
Some have questioned the merits of changing tack after one match - not earlier or later.
Howard insisted both veterans had been forewarned.
"They were given a chance," the former Wallabies centre said.
"I know all the conversations they've had with selectors, all the contract meetings in the lead up to this.
"Those conversations were had ... 'here's the expectation, you need to deliver, here are your chances'.
"I fully support exactly what the selectors did in giving them opportunities, but we also have depth in those positions."
Debate over selections in the showpiece series has been particularly feverish over the past four weeks.
Lehmann admitted it was a mistake to leave allrounder Mitch Marsh out of the XI for the fourth Test.
Peter Siddle's performance in the dead rubber suggests he should have been given a chance earlier in the five-Test series.
"You never know in cricket because you don't get to compare," Howard said.
"Any other player could have been dropped in and could have done better or could have done worse.
"Every selection decision that has been made I completely understand why the decision's been made."
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