ESSENDON'S players are doing their best to ignore the unfolding drama at NRL club Cronulla, who has stood down its coach and sacked four club officials in response to allegations that a number of its players were given banned drugs.

Both Cronulla and Essendon are being investigated by the Australian Sports Anti-Doping Authority, with the clubs linked by sports science practitioner Steve Dank, who worked for the Sharks in 2011 and the Bombers in 2012.

But with Essendon's season opener against Adelaide at AAMI Stadium just 11 days away, the Bombers are endeavouring to keep footy as their main focus.

"Yes, there might be a little bit of outside talk about what's going on at other clubs, but (the Cronulla) investigation will take its course, ours will take its course," midfielder Brent Stanton said at the Dons' family day at Windy Hill on Monday.

"(Ours is) a whole different investigation, and we opened up our doors to be investigated, so we're doing everything possible to try and get that process underway and we're fully cooperating.

"I think the AFL and ASADA are doing their job and so are we.

"I think the group has really come together. These sorts of things, unfortunately, bring people closer together.

"The mood around the football club is outstanding. We're upbeat, we're ready to go."

Stanton refused to say whether he has been interviewed by ASADA. He also refused to buy into talk about how long the investigation is taking.

"It's not frustrating at all," he said. "I think the investigation is going to take its course and eventually we will find out.

"We just want the truth.

"But our main focus is round one. It's probably a little bit hard to believe, but the playing group have come together and really focused on what we can control and that is our football.

"We're here to train and do our job, that is to try and improve and become a good football side."

Given all that has happened to the club in recent months, Stanton and his teammates are itching to take on the Crows and have the season proper underway.

"It's an exciting time. We started pre-season last November over in Colorado and there's been a bit go on over the summer," he said.

"But we're really excited, and I think the fans are excited as well. We want to put all this behind us and start playing games of football."

Essendon's fans are certainly sticking by the club. Thousands of them braved 36-degree heat to attend the club's family day, with autograph queues stretching right across the Windy Hill turf.

"The fans have been unbelievable," Stanton said. "Their support and everything they've come out and said in the media has been fantastic, and we can't thank them enough for that.

"Have a look out here today – it's a public holiday and they're all out here.

"We had 8,000 at Manuka Oval (for the GWS game on Friday night), we had a great crowd up at Wangaratta.

"I think the support for this football club is very loyal and we can't talk highly enough of our supporters."