The AFL has denied a claim by former Essendon captain Tim Watson that a decision has already been made to strip the embattled club of premiership points.
Watson said on Monday morning that the AFL would announce the punishment at the end of the month, before the start of the finals.
The AFL and Essendon now have copies of an interim Australian Sports Anti-Doping Authority (ASADA) report into last year’s controversial supplements program at the club.
AFL deputy chief executive Gil McLachlan refused to address Watson’s claim directly.
“I’m not going to comment on what other people are saying,” he said.
When asked if the AFL had already decided to strip Essendon of premiership points, McLachlan replied sarcastically: “I think you’re well ahead of the curve here.
“Obviously Andrew Dillon, the general counsel of the AFL and the head of our integrity unit, is considering the report,” McLachlan added.
“The first thing’s first, to decide if there’s any action to be taken.”
Separately, ASADA also will decide if the Bombers face specific anti-doping charges.
Essendon have been under ASADA and AFL investigation since February 5.
Initially, the plan was for ASADA to make their findings and for the AFL to then decide if it would lay any charges.
But ASADA has new enhanced powers which came into effect on August 1.
So as its investigation into the Bombers continues, it handed the AFL the 400-page interim report so the league could decide if it needs to take separate action.
The league can take premiership points from Essendon, suspend individuals and even strip Watson’s son Jobe of his 2012 Brownlow Medal under broad rules.
Any ASADA sanctions would be for specific breaches of the anti-doping code.
McLachlan was tight-lipped on when the AFL would announce its findings on Essendon.
“If any action is to be taken, he (Dillon) will make a decision when it’s appropriate,” McLachlan said.
“I’m not sure when that’s going to be.
“As I’ve always said, we’re keen to bring this to a head before the finals and we’re hopeful that will be done.
“But the process has to play out.”
McLachlan also hit back at criticism of senior AFL officials travelling to the United States last week on a fact-finding mission about game equalisation.
He and AFL chief executive Andrew Demetriou were part of the delegation, which also included several senior club officials.
McLachlan and other members of the delegation returned over the weekend, but Demetriou is not due back until Wednesday.
“Securing that and looking to improve that (equalisation), I think, is mutually exclusive to getting the right outcome in this investigation,” McLachlan said.
“Going to America had no bearing on getting the right outcome in this Essendon case.
“If people don’t think you can do both at the same time, they’re missing the point.”
