The final case in the Essendon peptides saga is over, with the AFL dropping all charges against club doctor Bruce Reid.

Dr Reid faced charges related to conduct unbecoming and bringing the game into disrepute.

He was one of four staff members from Essendon charged over the club's controversial supplements program.

Coach James Hird was suspended for 12 months, football manager Danny Corcoran was suspended for four months, and senior assistant Mark Thompson was fined $30,000.

In a joint statement on Wednesday, the AFL and Dr Reid agreed that he had always had the health of the players as his first priority, but that the failures of governance at the club's high performance unit had left him "marginalised", with information being withheld from him by people within the program.

"I support the stance taken by the AFL and the AFL Medical Officers Association in requiring appropriate governance at club level (particularly in terms of "sports science"), including a hierarchy of control which ensures a club doctor is the key person with the responsibility within AFL clubs for the health, welfare and safety of the playing group," Dr Reid said in the statement.

Essendon was keen for Dr Reid to continue his role as senior medical officer and he would return to the role in January 2014 after taking leave, the statement said.

Club chairman Paul Little said it is great news that Dr Reid had been cleared.

"It's some light relief from what we've been through over the last few months," he said.

"I guess the challenges ahead for us now with the club are getting our coaching role finalised and one or two other appointments."

He says the club now has a positive outlook.

"We've obviously still got some tidying up to do but we're making a lot of progress and I think just looking forward we're a very positive frame of mind at the club," he said.

Former club great Tim Watson says it is fantastic that Dr Reid has been exonerated.

"I've known Bruce for over 30 years and I know how much of a toll this whole thing has taken on him," he said.

"He's not just a club doctor, he's a loved figure at the club."