THE AFL hopes to make the specifics of the charges levelled against Essendon public in the next couple of days.
 
League chief Andrew Demetriou said it was in the best interests of the game to make the charges against Essendon, coach James Hird, club doctor Bruce Reid, football manager Danny Corcoran and senior assistant Mark Thompson available to the public.

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"It's our intention to get the charges out in the public domain so that the people understand what lays behind the charges and the particulars of the charges," Demetriou told 774 ABC radio on Friday morning.

"Hopefully we'll do that in the coming days, because I think that it's important and it will answer a lot of questions."
 
The Bombers and the four officials will face an AFL commission hearing on August 26.

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Despite the prospect of lengthy legal battles preceding that date, Demetriou said he hoped the issue would be finalised then and there.

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"I hope so. As we sit here, we're of the understanding that that hearing is to go ahead," Demetriou said.
 
"I hope it is for the game. These are serious changes. Our obligation is to protect the integrity of the game."

"I would hope we would try to get it resolved, for the sake of the game."
 
Demetriou said it was his intention to sit on the Commission's board later this month, despite a perceived conflict of interest.
 
"I don't think [there is a conflict of interest] and that will be up to advice from lawyers," he said.
 
"I don't see any reason why I'm conflicted," he said.
 
The League boss also corrected claims that the interim ASADA report could not be used at the hearing.
 
He said the plan was to refer to ASADA's report in the hearing. 

Twitter: @AFL_BenGuthrie