THIS YEAR, most AFL coaches have been quick to deflect when asked about the Essendon supplements scandal.

And then there's Mick Malthouse.

The Carlton coach again went on the front foot on Wednesday talking about the hurt and damage the scandal has caused AFL football and urging the League to take strong action towards those adjudged to have done the wrong thing.

Speaking on 3AW, Malthouse warned that a soft approach by the AFL would encourage aspiring players to push the boundaries in an attempt to give themselves the best chance to make the grade.

"If you can give them something or inject them with something that's going to make them better, you don't think they're going to get out there and do it?” he said.

"It's up to the AFL to make sure without any fear of hesitation that this is illegal, we will not put up with it and if we find (any illegal substances) you are then not eligible for the draft."

While no Essendon players have yet received infraction notices from ASADA, Malthouse nevertheless remains skeptical about what happened to the Bombers when they were injected with substances at premises away from Windy Hill.

He said he couldn’t imagine the same thing happening at any club he was coaching given the quality and nature of their leadership groups.

"But if they (Essendon) have gone off premises to have injections, wouldn't there be cause for suspicion among the leadership group?"

Malthouse called on the AFL to tighten its governance procedures even further.

"It is going to test the AFL and its resolve to make sure that things don't appear they way this one has. It's a shocking thing to be hanging over a code," he added, likening this controversy to those in cycling, athletics and baseball.

Malthouse also predicted a messy end to the season as the Bombers dig their heels in.

"I think it's going to be a shambles at the end of the year. Anything can be pressed into the court system and it will delayed and delayed and delayed.

"We know that the longer you delay things, the more resolve people have to hang in there. I can't see this being concluded until well after the season and even in 2014, there will be times the AFL will need to act to protect the integrity of the season."

Malthouse said that he would not be particularly delighted if Carlton made the finals in the event the Bombers were turfed out by the AFL.

"It would leave a very poor taste and there would have to be an asterisk to explain why you made the finals," he said.