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The AFL Commission is unlikely to further punish Essendon for the club's 2012 supplements program, even though it has the power to do so if two or more Bombers are proven to have committed an anti-doping breach. As the 34 current and former players issued with show-cause notices met either in person or via Skype from interstate with their AFL Players Association-backed lawyers on Monday night, what could well be a protracted and uncertain legal battle could impact on the club in several ways. The Australian Sports Anti-Doping Authority is offering reduced penalties to players willing to come forward and help with its case, which focuses on the potential use of Thymosin beta 4. This could mean that a possible two-year ban is slashed to as little as six months, allowing that player to return in time for the 2015 season. However, it could yet mean that time served must be during the season proper. Those with knowledge of ASADA's workings point to the possibility that the players' case against ASADA, not to mention the separate briefs brought by the club and suspended coach James Hird in the Federal Court, may not be decided until midway through 2015. By then, any player who has been placed on the Register of Findings over an anti-doping violation and was willing to fight this would have had the case heard by the Administrative Appeals Tribunal and possibly the Federal Court. It is believed the AFL would wait until at least those appeals were held before issuing infraction notices. Should those infraction notices be delivered, the AFL's anti-doping code states under "consequences to teams": "If more than one player in a club is found to have committed an anti-doping rule violation during a season, the club may be subject to sanctions to be determined, in their absolute discretion, by the Commission." However, commission chairman Mike Fitzpatrick said after a meeting on Monday that the saga had gone on too long, and that the league had already dealt with the club, having fined it, stripped it of draft picks and suspended Hird for 12 months. "I am extremely disappointed that the players are in this position. The AFL last year took strong and timely action against the club and three individuals at the club, and those individuals and the club accepted the penalties," said Fitzpatrick after the commissioners were briefed by AFL legal counsel Andrew Dillon. "We support the role of the AFLPA in offering independent legal counsel for the players, and will continue to be in contact with the players' association where appropriate. I also note again that from the outset of the investigation, the players have fully co-operated with all requests and inquiries made of them." AFL chief executive Gillon McLachlan said the AFL had contingency plans for all scenarios, including player bans. He said the AFL was prepared for the possibility that next season would also be affected. "We think we're well prepared for where we are now, and we're confident that all scenarios are covered," he said. The Essendon players are being represented by a five-man legal team of David Grace, QC, Tony Hargreaves, Ben Ihle and AFLPA in-house lawyers, Bernie Shinners and Brett Murphy. As reported by Fairfax Media, the players have so far remained united in their fight, but there is a feeling this could change as the stakes rise. It is understood some players believe ASADA, an independent body, has worked in "bad faith" and unlawfully pursued its case by doing so in conjunction with the AFL. Lawyers for the players have pushed for an extension to the usual 10-day response period they have once show-cause notices are issued. They want up to six weeks to respond before the Anti-Doping Rule Violation Panel, a body independent of ASADA, determines whether a brief of evidence and the players' response justifies admission on the Register of Findings. Essendon's case against ASADA will have its initial directions hearing on June 27, with legal sources close to the players of the opinion it may be best to wait until then before responding to the show-cause notices. The Federal Court action initiated last week was taken independently of the current and former Essendon players. Chairman Paul Little indicated last Friday the club was acting on behalf of the players in taking action, but the club is not representing the players in court.