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ESSENDON coach James Hird says the club is "shocked" with the World Anti-Doping Agency's decision to appeal the findings that cleared 34 Bombers of using banned substances, but he remains confident the players will be cleared again.
Hird was notified by an email from club chief executive Xavier Campbell at 6.16am on Tuesday morning that WADA would proceed with an appeal to challenge the AFL Anti-Doping Tribunal's decision it was not comfortably satisfied the players took prohibited supplement Thymosin Beta-4.
Speaking at St Kilda Sea Baths before an Essendon recovery session, Hird said the Bombers were surprised by WADA's decision following ASADA's call not to appeal the verdict.
"I think everyone around the club and around Melbourne thought this wouldn't happen, but it has so we have to deal with it," Hird said.
Hird said the thorough nature of the AFL Tribunal's decision had led most to believe the independent world body wouldn't lodge an appeal with the Court of Arbitration for Sport, which will now go ahead with a new hearing.
Read the Anti-Doping Tribunal's verdict
"If it was a line-ball decision then maybe we thought it would go that way, but the decision was very comprehensive. That surprised us that they appealed, but they have, so again we have to deal with it," he said.
Captain Jobe Watson reiterated Hird's view that the players were prepared to handle the pressure after sticking strong since the scandal broke in February, 2013.
"In your mind you look to move on, and after the case was heard and the verdict was received, the mindset of the players was of a possible appeal, but given the length of time we were looking forward to moving on," Watson said.
"This obviously means that's going to be delayed further.
"The players have handled this before. Unfortunately, the players know how to deal with it because we've been living through it. The advice and the way in which it will play out hasn't been discussed yet. We haven't met with our lawyers yet."
Essendon coach James Hird fronts the media pack on Tuesday. Picture: Getty Images
The Bombers and Hird have little information about how the appeal will unfold, and the coach acknowledged it will be a distraction for his team after a solid start to the season which has seen it win three of its first six games.
"They've gone through it once … they believe they've done nothing wrong, they believe they haven't taken anything illegal, we believe they haven't taken anything illegal, we believe that, the AFL Tribunal believes that," Hird said.
"It's a distraction but we'll get through it and we'll prove our innocence again."
There is no timeframe set for the appeal as yet, with some speculation it could be until later in the year before any decision is known, but the club is keen to get the process underway as soon as possible.
Campbell was also at the recovery session, with more strain ahead for the club, its board, executive and players.
"There's no doubt it will cause stress again, but we're prepared to go through it. We believe in the players' innocence. They've been proven innocent once, and they'll be proven innocent again," Hird said.
The Bombers were yet to speak with the full list about the situation before Hird's media appearance, with the club to face North Melbourne at Etihad Stadium on Friday night.
"It's business as usual for us. We've been through it once, we're going through it again. We believe we've got a good football team and we have to win Friday night," Hird said.
"We've got to turn up and be prepared to play.
"We're ready to tackle whatever comes. We've tackled it, we've played good football around it, we're confident in our football team and we'll deal with it as it comes."
