Essendon coach James Hird could announce as early as Thursday that he will appeal against last month’s devastating Federal Court ruling.
While the Herald Sun reported Hird will proceed with an appeal, The Age said Essendon have decided against pursuing any further court action.
It sets the scene for an intriguing club best and fairest function on Wednesday night in Melbourne, with this season’s Essendon caretaker coach Mark Thompson set to take over as Gold Coast coach.
Thompson is understood to be attending the function.
The club and Hird took ASADA to court, arguing the anti-doping body’s joint investigation into the 2012 supplements program at Essendon was unlawful.
But Justice John Middleton ruled decisively against them, despite their confidence that they had strong cases.
The Bombers and Hird officially have until October 10 to confirm whether they will appeal.
ASADA announced last week that if Essendon and Hird decided not to appeal, the national anti-doping body would proceed with revised show-cause notices against 34 current and former Bombers players.
The show-cause notices are the first step in the anti-doping disciplinary process.
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For all the pomp and circumstance that surrounds the now-traditional Anzac Day clash at the MCG, there has been one thing conspicuously lacking over…
Old mate summing it up better than anyone possibly could!
