Essendon players will seek legal advice over a controversial media report that has prompted united condemnation from the 18 AFL captains.
Bombers captain Jobe Watson said the players named in last Sunday’s story will go to their association.
Asked if the players named in the report had sought legal or other counsel, Watson said: “We haven’t got to that stage yet.”
“We’ll seek the advice of the players association on that.”
Sunday’s News Ltd story named 14 current or former Essendon players, who told anti-doping investigators they may have been injected with potentially-banned substances.
The story relates to the ongoing ASADA investigation into Essendon’s supplements scandal.
At the start of their annual open media session, held on the day of the AFL season launch, the club captains gave strong support to the Essendon players named in the story.
The captains stood behind Fremantle skipper Matthew Pavlich on Wednesday at Adelaide Oval as he read from a prepared statement.
Pavlich said they felt the report “falls short of the standards of respect and decency which we hope would characterise the relationship between players and the media.
“Regardless of what you think about what happened at Essendon in 2012, there is no doubt that these players are in an unenviable and vulnerable position.
“Without labouring the point, taking any further unnecessary action or holding grudges, let’s all take stock, reflect on how we would like to be treated both individually and collectively, and work together to continue to showcase the game.”
Watson said the Bombers are ready for this season, despite the ongoing stresses of the supplements saga.
The AFL kicked them out of last year’s finals and suspended coach James Hird for 12 months among other punishments.
There is no indication if or when ASADA will issue infraction notices as a result of their investigation.
“We’ll walk out in front of 50-60,000 Essendon members with our heads held high and we’ll attack this 2014 season the way we’ve prepared,” Watson said.
“We’re really excited about that.
“There have been times where it’s been disillusioning, but we’ve maintained strength as a group.”
Watson added the main strain for the named players had been the toll it took on their families and friends.
“It’s your parents, your mothers, sisters, brothers, grandparents – where a situation like that occurs, where it’s unnecessary, it’s very difficult for your family members,” he said.
The captains also raised the story on Wednesday in their meeting with the AFL Commission and executive.