A FORMER Essendon player seeking to sue the AFL has had an application to protect his identity rejected.

Lawyers for Hal Hunter, who did not appear in court on Wednesday, sought a suppression order on the basis that legal action would relate to medical treatment he received as well as his personal health records.

Supreme Court Justice John Dixon rejected the suppression application, and refused to allow Hunter to use a pseudonym.

He said the case would be no different to medical negligence cases where the plaintiff's identity and medical details are revealed in open court.

No applications have been lodged in relation to Hunter.

Hunter spent two years on Essendon's rookie list, 2012 and 2013, without playing a senior match.

Asked about the legal action before Wednesday's court hearing, Essendon chairman Paul Little said, "It's always disappointing, the player is unnamed, we'll just have to wait and see where that goes."

Little, who was at AFL House for a club leaders’ meeting, said he was optimistic it wasn't the beginning of more legal action: "I don't know, I hope not, I don't think so."