ESSENDON figures have spent much of this week in a Federal Court battle, but coach Mark Thompson hopes it won't distract the club's footballers from their on-field fight to claim a finals spot.
While the Bombers' hierarchy launched its legal challenge to the ASADA-AFL investigation this week, Essendon is also preparing for a must-win game against West Coast at Etihad Stadium on Saturday.
Thompson said he hadn't discussed the week's events with the players, but couldn't guarantee how they would respond.
"The more you talk about it the more it's in their mind and in their thoughts. I think they've probably seen enough, heard enough, had enough," he said on Friday.
"I have no idea what's going on in their mind, I haven't talked to them much. If there is something that's on their minds, we've encouraged them to talk to somebody. That somebody probably wouldn't want to be me."
Earlier, club chairman Paul Little told SEN it was time for the anti-doping body to provide any extra evidence it might have behind the issuing of show-cause notices to 34 current and former Essendon players in June.
"When the show-cause notices were issued we thought additional information might be supplied, well that didn't happen," Little said.
"If ASADA is sitting on further evidence and information then surely for the health and welfare of the players then they should [be] tabling that now.
"I wouldn't like to think that's being held back for legal strategic reasons.
"If there is additional information out there we should be told about it."
On the field the Bombers receive a boost with the return of skipper Jobe Watson to face the Eagles, the Brownlow medallist's first game since round 12 after hip tendon surgery.
"Early days we thought we weren't going to get him back this year at all so for him to come back and just to be on the track the last couple of weeks, he's excited about footy and that'll add something to the group," Thompson said.
And while Watson will be joined by Michael Hibberd (hamstring) as important inclusions, that has been slightly offset by the loss of star key position player Jake Carlisle.
Carlisle suffered a back spasm this week at training and is expected to miss just one match, but his absence gives another chance for young forward Joe Daniher, who struggled last week against Richmond.
Thompson said if he had his time again Daniher would not have played so soon after collarbone surgery, but that the 20-year-old had passed himself fit to face the Tigers.
"It's all about team. If you make decisions based on yourself and not the team, then it's not looked upon that well and it becomes a disease," he said.
"I'm all about team, I don't have any special rules for people who play in my teams. You make the team decisions all the time. He's only young, he'll learn and he's very apologetic, he's sorry and he knew he didn't play well.
"It might be a good thing he stayed in the team so he can redeem himself."
Twitter: @AFL_CalTwomey
