THE AFL Players' Association hopes the delivery of infraction notices to 34 past and present Essendon players will see the matter dealt with quickly.

After almost two years the AFL on Friday afternoon formally charged the players over the alleged use of a banned peptide Thymosin beta-4 in 2012.

"The decision by the AFL to issue infraction notices keeps this process moving and we look forward to this issue being resolved as soon as possible," AFLPA chief executive Paul Marsh said on Saturday.

The laying of charges quickly follows Thursday's announcement that the 34 players had been placed on the Anti-Doping Rule Violation Panel's register of findings.

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That means the AFL will soon convene Tribunal hearings run by independent chairman David Jones, a former County Court judge.

Jones is set to conduct a directions hearing early next week to determine how the process will work.

The identities of the players remain confidential at this stage.

It’s understood the AFL is not opposed to the idea of tribunal hearings being open to the media, but strict confidentiality clauses in the anti-doping process could prove a major road block.

Earlier this week Essendon coach James Hird spent a day and a half in the Federal Court, appealing a ruling that ASADA's investigation into the supplements scandal was lawful.

Justices Susan Kenny, Tony Besanko and Richard White have reserved their judgement.

On Wednesday the Bombers cut ties with Mark Thompson, who had stood in for Hird during his year-long suspension.

It remains to be seen what impact the tribunal process could have on Hird's position as senior coach.

He and club doctor Bruce Reid are the only key off-field figures remaining at the club since the supplements saga began in early 2013.


Players found guilty of taking performance-enhancing drugs face a maximum two-year suspension for a first offence.

Under the anti-doping code, infraction notices trigger provisional suspensions.

It’s not clear whether Friday’s developments will have any impact on the Australian team for next week’s International Rules Test against Ireland.

The AFL offered no comment on Friday night.

An Essendon spokesman repeated "the club will continue to support the players during this process" but referred enquiries back to the players' association, which is representing the players' legal interests.