AFL CEO Gillon McLachlan believes it is inevitable that the latest twist in the Essendon supplements saga will impact the 2014 season.
On Thursday, 34 show-cause notices were issued to current and former players, who now have 10 days to respond to the alleged use of prohibited substances.
"This is nothing more than an allegation to which the players will respond. We will see where it goes. However, I can see it will have an impact on our season," McLachlan said on radio station 3AW on Friday morning.
He revealed the AFL was not contacted by ASADA before the show-cause notices were issued and made public on Thursday.
"It is what it is…and I have great empathy for the players," McLachlan said.
The long-running saga, which broke in February last year, cast a shadow over the 2013 season and led to the Bombers being excluded from the finals and coach James Hird suspended for 12 months.
"Everyone is sick of it, there is absolutely no doubt about that," McLachlan said.
ASADA's investigation has dragged on for 16 months and the AFL chief said changes to the process were likely to be made once the Essendon case was complete.
"This process is hugely challenging - it's hugely challenging for the AFL to have no control or visibility over it," McLachlan said.
"I think the CEO of ASADA (Ben McDevitt) has said he believes it's too complex, and when we get through this I think that everyone's pre-empting some change to the process.
Meanwhile, McLachlan said the AFL would take no action against Collingwood midfielder Dane Swan, who the CEO said was "inadvertently" caught up in an off-field issue after being photographed at an event with underworld figure Mick Gatto.
McLachlan also said club runners interfering with play was "unacceptable”, following Geelong runner Nigel Lappin’s $2000 suspended fine for his clash with Carlton’s Mitch Robinson last Friday night.
AFL football operations boss Mark Evans had met with the clubs runners and would "do what he needs to do to stop it” said McLachlan.
The 2012 Essendon side. Picture: AFL Media
