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The AFL admits it cannot say how long the Essendon anti-doping tribunal hearings will last.
The Bombers’ supplements scandal has reached a crucial stage, with the AFL issuing infraction notices against 34 current and past players earlier this month.
Those players will now front the tribunal, with the proceedings scheduled to open on December 15.
But the hearings – run by the AFL’s anti-doping tribunal chairman David Jones, a former County Court judge – are unprecedented and it is unclear how they will operate.
There is also no word yet on whether they will be open to the media.
“We’d obviously like it finished as soon as we can – we’ve been saying that for many months,” AFL chief executive Gill McLachlan said.
“We at least have a hard deadline now for the start of the tribunal.
“I really don’t know how long it’s going to take.
“So it will take what it takes.”
There have been hopes that the Essendon saga would not drag into next season.
But McLachlan said it was imperative that the hearings go ahead properly.
“In the end, it has to be done the right way, so both sides have the appropriate time, process and platform to present their cases, because it’s so important,” he said.
Another potential complication is James Hird’s appeal in the Federal Court against ASADA.
If his latest court action is successful, that will most likely have a massive impact on the tribunal hearings.
There is also no word on when the three appeal judges will hand down their findings at the Federal Court.
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