ESSENDON has launched a stunning Federal Court counter-attack against ASADA and the AFL.

Bombers chairman Paul Little announced the court challenge at a press conference at the club’s Melbourne Airport headquarters this afternoon.

The Federal Court application lodged by the club this afternoon alleges ASADA’s controversial joint investigation with the AFL was unlawful and in clear breach of the ASADA Act.

The action - aimed at knocking out ASADA’s case against 34 Essendon players hit with show-cause notices last night - is based on advice from a top constitutional and administrative law expert.

“Enough is enough. We will not be bullied and we will not let our players be hung out to dry any longer,” Little said at the press conference.

“They have suffered enough.”

TITLE: Live: Bombers speak SIZE: 650x1000px SCROLLING: no CLASSNAME: scribble

Little said the club’s board decided unanimously to launch the action after being “left with no alternative but to fight to protect the reputations of our players”.

“The club will contend that the joint application was unlawful,” Little said.

“The board does not take this decision lightly.”

Little said natural justice could not run its course after the investigation.

“We have been left with no other option but to challenge this decision through the courts,” he said.

“There is no power or capacity under the ASADA Act to conduct the joint investigation and there never was,” he said.

“We will seek a permanent injunction on the use of all information gathered in that investigation.”

He said he understood the show-cause letters did not contain any evidence to support serious allegations against the players.

He also slammed ASADA for “grandstanding” and conducting a “media blitz” today.

AFL spokesman Patrick Keane tweeted a brief response following Little’s press conference.

“AFL respects the right of all individual players & Essendon FC to explore their legal options. The AFL can make no comment at this time,” he wrote.

Essendon “self-reported” concerns over its sport science program to the AFL and ASADA on February 5 last year, prompting the two bodies to launch the unprecedented joint investigation.

The dramatic move places the Bombers back on a collision course with the AFL Commission, which last year slapped the club with the heaviest penalties in the game’s history.

Earlier today, Essendon coach Mark Thompson urged fans to stick by the club as the saga continues.

Thompson appeared in a video message on the Essendon website this afternoon imploring fans to remain loyal.

“We are working hard and we want you to back our boys,” Thompson said.

“Keep with us and stay loyal.”

“Turn up to game especially this week against Melbourne and keep supporting us.”

“We love what you have done and now is a critical time to join the fight to get the Bombers back to where they should be.”

MARK ROBINSON: BOMBERS MUST TAKE THE ULTIMATE STEP

JON RALPH: ANOTHER YEAR IN RUINS AS DOOMSDAY LOOMS

TIMELINE: HOW THE DRUGS SAGA HAS UNFOLDED

ASADA INQUIRY: WHAT HAPPENS NEXT

MORE: BOMBERS LOOKING FORWARD TO HIRD’S RETURN

ASADA chief Ben McDevitt floated the possibility of players receiving a significant discount on possible two-year bans if they fully co-operated with the investigation.

“If a player can demonstrate no significant fault … if they didn’t know for example what was being administered to them, they would have that sort of claim, that penalty can then be reduced by up to 50 per cent,” he said on 3AW radio.

“In addition to that, a player can actually make a claim that they have provided substantial assistance to ASADA.

“If they were to actually say and demonstrate that they had told the whole truth and are willing to say everything that they know about the circumstances here then we can see further substantial reductions.”

Essendon has indicated players will not try to claim a discount because it would involve admitting the use of banned substances.

This would aim to stop ASADA’s action, and any sanctions against players and club staff, in its tracks.

Essendon players earlier arrived at the club’s Tullamarine headquarters as security guards cordoned off the entrance to the media.

Meanwhile, Melbourne captain Nathan Jones said the entire AFL system has compassion for players under a cloud from the anti-doping investigation that has gone on for 16 months.

Jones said he had put himself in the shoes of the affected players, and had sympathy.

“You feel for the position they’re in,” he said.

“I don’t think any player envies them. There’s a lot of compassion among the entire playing group across the AFL for the Essendon players.

“Hopefully they can come to a resolution pretty soon and we can all move on from it.”

Jones said the way that the Bombers playing group had stuck together had earned his respect.

“They’ve found themselves in a really awkward position,” he said.

“One thing I’ve really admired from the outset is how strong they’ve been and how united they’ve been as a footy club.

“That’s the only way they’re going to get through that.”

ASADA yesterday notified players by email and texts, detailing that they face “show cause’’ notices and will now have to prove why they should not be cited for doping.

The dramatic move throws the AFL season into turmoil.

Mr McDevitt has asked Essendon players to work with his office to bring closure to the issue, insisting he’s satisfied the current and former players had a case to answer.

“Players now are at a critical point and as much as some say that a player who gives assistance has disadvantaged themselves in fact when we go into this process the total opposite is true,’’ chief executive Ben McDevitt told ABC radio this morning.

“Players need to make some difficult decisions.”

He confirmed the show cause notices were issued in regard to the taking of a prohibited substance.

Mr McDevitt asked players to work with ASADA for a speedy resolution, fearing that court action will see the investigation delayed even more.

“What we are hearing (is) players want to get on with this, we need an opportunity to reach resolution and injunctions and that sort of thing will create further delays in the processes,” he said.

“I would now like to enter into engagement with players and with legal counsel. As much as anyone else I want to see resolution of these matters.”

AFL chief executive Gillon McLachlan this morning said the notices were “not an indication of guilt”.

He said he would meet with ASADA officials as soon as possible.

“If players had received show cause notices now or in the future that is just the start of a long process. It is not an indication of guilt, it’s an allegation to which the players would be given a period of time to respond,” he told ABC radio.

“Depending on that response they may or may not be put on the register of findings and they still would not have been issued with infraction notices. That would then provide a basis, a whole series of evidence, which would then go to the AFL and then Andrew Dillion the general counsel would make a decision whether to issue infraction notices or not.”

ASADA’s case against the players is believed to centre on the use of the peptide thymosin beta 4, banned by the World Anti-Doping Agency.

Players would face bans of up to two years if they are found guilty of taking prohibited substances.

Bombers legend Tim Watson, the father of club captain and 2012 Brownlow medallist Jobe Watson, said last night the players were “shocked”.

Watson also indicated Essendon would launch a legal challenge.

“The new AFL CEO, Gill McLachlan, told the CEOs and presidents only last week that they should start preparing themselves for what could be a very bumpy ride,” he said.

“Today’s news, though, that the players have received show cause notices, would have been a real shock.”

Any charges against Essendon players and officials will ultimately be heard by an AFL tribunal. Players and their lawyers will have 10 days to respond to the show cause notices. They would do so by providing reasons why ASADA should not proceed.

ASADA has probed what club-appointed investigator Ziggy Switkowski said was “a disturbing picture of a pharmacologically experimental environment never adequately controlled or challenged or documented within the club”.

Co-operation between ASADA and AFL chiefs ceased last year after an interim report was used as the basis for heavy governance sanctions meted out to the club and officials, including suspended coach James Hird.

Little said in a statement on the club’s website yesterday, before the show cause notices were issued: “I can confirm we are exploring all legal options for our players in the unlikely event they receive show cause letters from ASADA — we make no apologies for that.”

ASADA has already issued a show cause notice to Essendon’s former sports scientist, Stephen Dank, and could yet issue them against other support staff.

Essendon’s legal challenges could include calling on ASADA to show its evidence supporting a doping violation.

Lawyers could argue a “no fault” or negligence defence, claiming players had no knowledge of substances administered in 2012.

The Essendon scandal erupted on February 5 last year, when the Bombers “self-reported” to the AFL and ASADA and asked to be investigated.

Betting giant TAB last night suspended betting on Essendon playing in the finals.

– with Mark Robinson and Peter Rolfe

MARK ROBINSON: BOMBERS MUST TAKE THE ULTIMATE STEP

JON RALPH: ANOTHER YEAR IN RUINS AS DOOMSDAY LOOMS

TIMELINE: HOW THE DRUGS SAGA HAS UNFOLDED

ASADA INQUIRY: WHAT HAPPENS NEXT

MORE: BOMBERS LOOKING FORWARD TO HIRD’S RETURN

michael.warner@news.com.au