THE FATHER of Essendon player Alex Browne has revealed his disappointment in the club's handling of the supplements scandal.

The Age reported that Murray Browne, who is also the AFL Players Association Alumni Advisory Board chairman, said the Bombers had let them down through the saga.

"As a family our main issue has been to support Alex through it," Browne said at the Brownlow Medal breakfast at Etihad Stadium on Monday morning.

"He's OK, and unfortunately we're just waiting for the end (of the process) to happen.

"We feel a bit let down by the whole governance factor of the club. He's OK but there's a slight uncertainty about the future with him and his health, and there shouldn't be any uncertainty really.

"But we've made a lot of investigations and we're confident he's OK. 

"Let's just hope the saga ends soon."


Former AFL boss Andrew Demetriou was in the same camp, saying he felt vindicated by Federal Justice John Middleton’s ruling on Friday that the ASADA’s joint investigation with the AFL was legal.

"Our team spent a hell of a lot of time on the process to make sure that it was always legal. On Friday you heard pretty much the same from Justice Middleton," Demetriou said.

"For everyone's concern, particularly the Essendon players and the public, the matters need to be brought to the end. I'm sure there'll be some dialogue going on at the moment about how you can bring this whole sorry saga to an end, particularly if you care for the players.

"Organisations, clubs are always bigger than the individual. You should always put the interests of the whole first and foremost. Let's hope that some common sense prevails."


Alex Browne (left), Ariel Steinberg, James Hird and Dyson Heppell in November, 2010. Picture: Getty Images